Shipping powers warn global maritime rulebook is breaking down
Eighteen leading maritime nations, grouped in the Consultative Shipping Group (CSG), warned that international rules underpinning global shipping are being eroded, threatening to fragment maritime markets and global trade. The group cited wars, chokepoint disruption, shadow fleets, and discriminatory trade measures as evidence of a structural change. It called for consistent application of existing rules, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and warned that fragmented regulation raises costs and undermines supply chains.
Why it matters: This warning highlights the theme of geopolitical fragmentation, as shipping routes are increasingly used as leverage and regulatory divergence threatens the stability of global trade.