Shipping lines abandon Transpacific as US-China trade war intensifies

The transpacific shipping route, a vital artery for global trade, is hemorrhaging carriers as the US-China trade war escalates, with new US port fees and plummeting freight rates forcing both niche and major players to retreat.

The latest casualty, TS Lines, announced it will exit the Asia-US West Coast service next month, withdrawing its sole vessel from the route. This follows China’s Hede Shipping scaling back its transpacific exposure, with more companies signaling similar moves as economic pressures mount.