Maritime Leaders Forum: Global trade tensions – the new normal?

Across the marine and maritime sector we have long understood the value and importance of the role that we play in enabling global trade.  With over 90% of all goods traded today being transported by sea, and projections such as those of the OECD and International Trade Forum (2020 ) that global maritime freight transport demand will triple by 2050, we have been actively developing strategies and pursuing initiatives to support this expected significant growth of shipping, including aspects such as supporting infrastructure, decarbonisation, autonomy, security, and key enablers such as skills and the use of digital technologies. 

Given the significant global trade tensions and disruption of the past month, we are already witnessing impacts to shipping, whether through delays or re-routing.  This is cause for us to pause and reflect on the impacts and potential longevity of this disruption, and to consider whether in reality this is the new ‘normal’.  This Maritime Leaders Forum will consider these issues, offering perspectives on both short and longer term impacts, and how and whether we will need to adjust our longer term strategies to remain a successful and sustainable sector.