China has called in executives from Europe’s two largest shipping companies to complain about extra freight charges and the suspension of services to the Middle East as the war in Iran disrupts trade.
The transport ministry said in a brief statement on Tuesday it had summoned Danish shipping group Maersk and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company for talks on their “international shipping operations” without elaborating. The state planner said it had also held talks recently with the two companies.
Two people familiar with the discussions said transport ministry officials expressed concerns over supply chain disruptions and the stability of trade flows after the shipping groups added charges, raised freight rates and suspended some routes to and from the Middle East.