EXCLUSIVE: World Shipping Council CEO on Trade War, Port Fees & the Future of Container Shipping
In this exclusive Freight Buyers’ Club interview, World Shipping Council CEO & President Joe Kramek unpacks the impact of the U.S. port fees on China-built vessels, why the policy may backfire on U.S. exporters and manufacturers, and how it blindsided vehicle carriers. We also explore the bigger picture: the ongoing trade disruptions, their impact on container shipping, and what a comprehensive, long-term U.S. shipbuilding strategy might look like. Plus, what the historic IMO emissions deal really means for freight buyers — and why global rules beat a patchwork of regional ones. This episode was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud [https://www.ontegos.cloud/] Topics covered: U.S. policy on shipbuilding and China • Why new port fees may harm U.S. interests • The surprise hit to vehicle carriers • Supply chain impacts of geopolitical instability • Green fuel rules from 2028 & the cost for shippers • What a real U.S. maritime industrial strategy could look like • What’s next from the WSC in Washington and at the IMO As referenced in the discussion. This is Mike’s Explainer on the new IMO rules: New IMO GHG Emissions Deal = Higher Shipping Costs? | Freight Buyers’ Club Explainer https://youtu.be/yT3wHc1H9FQ