On 28 May 2026, the World Trade Organization (WTO) advised that senior executives from leading global shipping companies and industry groups had underscored the growing operational and economic challenges to global goods trade during a meeting with its WTO Director-General (DG). The executives noted that, while global supply chains had demonstrated resilience, efforts to identify and rely on alternative maritime routes amid disruptions – particularly in the Gulf region and other chokepoints – were driving up costs for shippers and ultimately consumers.
The industry representatives noted that while they were adapting and innovating, tightening capacity constraints across transport networks were presenting serious difficulties. With alternative land-based routes and ports already saturated, shifting cargo away from maritime routes imposes significant limitations and increasing costs.
One executive highlighted the scale gap, noting that it can take around 70 freight trains to match the capacity of a single container ship.
Industry representatives also pointed to operational bottlenecks, including Customs delays stemming from multimodal logistics and the use of alternative corridors. These constraints, combined with rising costs and route uncertainty, underscore the importance of investing in improved port and logistics infrastructure globally to maintain efficient, predictable trade flows.
The industry executives emphasised the importance of respecting multilateral norms and agreements, including the longstanding principle of freedom of navigation.
The DG emphasised the critical role of maritime transport, which carries over 80% of global trade by volume, and called for strengthened cooperation between governments and the private sector. Addressing industry concerns about customs delays, the DG stressed the importance of fully implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and other facilitation measures, such as the digitalisation of customs procedures, timely information-sharing and restraint in the use of trade restrictions to support supply chain resilience and stability.
The DG encouraged industry representatives to continue engaging with the WTO Secretariat and other international organisations to spotlight the growing challenges they face.
Participants in the meeting included senior executives from the shipping and logistics groups MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen Marine Corp, Yang Ming and China Merchants Energy Shipping, as well as the heads of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the World Shipping Council.