US Should Establish Public Container Carrier to Counter Foreign Dominance, Think Tank Argues

# US Should Establish Public Container Carrier to Counter Foreign Dominance, Think Tank Argues The United States should consider establishing a state-backed container shipping line to reduce its strategic and economic dependence on foreign carriers, according to a new report from the Open Markets Institute. The Washington-based antimonopoly research group warns that six overseas-owned liner companies currently control nearly 80% of global container shipping capacity — a level of market concentration that it argues poses significant risks to American supply chain security and economic competitiveness. The proposal, reported by Splash247, reflects growing concern in policy circles about the vulnerability of US trade flows to disruptions in foreign-controlled shipping networks. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain crises brought renewed scrutiny to America's reliance on international carriers for the movement of goods, and the debate has intensified amid broader geopolitical tensions affecting global trade routes. ## A Strategic Gap in US Maritime Capability The United States has not operated a major publicly backed container carrier for decades, leaving American importers and exporters largely dependent on carriers headquartered in Europe and Asia. Critics of the current arrangement argue this dependency creates both economic and national security vulnerabilities, particularly during periods of global disruption when foreign governments may prioritize their own carriers' interests. The Open Markets Institute's report positions a public container carrier as a structural remedy — one that could provide a reliable, US-controlled option for shippers while introducing competitive pressure into a market that critics say has long been prone to oligopolistic behaviour. ## Industry and Policy Context The call comes at a time of heightened political interest in reshoring strategic industries and strengthening domestic supply chains. Legislation such as the Ocean Shipping Reform Act has already sought to address carrier pricing practices and improve transparency in the container shipping market, but proponents of a public carrier argue that regulatory reform alone is insufficient to rebalance market power. Opponents of the idea are likely to point to the significant capital requirements involved in establishing a competitive liner service, as well as the operational complexities of running a global container shipping network. Previous attempts by governments to sustain national carriers have produced mixed results, with many state-backed lines ultimately struggling to compete on cost with privately operated rivals. Nonetheless, the Open Markets Institute's intervention signals that the debate over America's maritime industrial strategy is far from settled, and is likely to gain further traction as policymakers continue to reassess the country's exposure to foreign-controlled critical infrastructure. *Source: Splash247*