China has summoned two of the world’s largest container shipping companies, Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), for discussions about their international shipping operations.
The country’s Ministry of Transport confirmed the meeting in a brief statement released on Tuesday, but did not provide further details.
The talks come amid rising freight rates, the suspension of some shipping services to the Middle East, and concerns over control of key port facilities along the Panama Canal.
Officials from China’s transport ministry and state planning agencies recently held discussions with the two companies about supply chain disruptions and the stability of international trade.
People familiar with the discussions said Chinese authorities raised concerns after the companies increased freight charges and halted some services linked to the Middle East.
These measures follow rising tensions in the region that have disrupted shipping traffic and increased risks for vessels operating in nearby waters.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s
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