Unsettled Seas: China Tariffs, Rate Shifts, and the Return of Pirates

Container shipping just won’t sit still.

This week, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest volatility across global trades — from Pacific spot rates showing strange regional “vibrations,” to a 20–30% capacity surge on the transatlantic that’s pushing rates to decade lows.

They also break down the temporary pause in the U.S.–China trade war — what it really means for importers heading into 2026 — and why a new uptick in Somali piracy adds one more layer of complexity to an already unsettled market.

Topics include:

• Pacific rate patterns after Golden Week
• MSC’s mega-vessels reshaping the Atlantic
• The U.S.–China tariff “ceasefire” and its 12-month deadline
• Renewed piracy risks off East Africa