Joe Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council, writes:
Global trade has grown again in 2025.
Ships are carrying more goods, routes are expanding and new markets are emerging. But behind that growth, regional trends are pulling in different directions – and the rules that shape trade are fragmenting.
From tariffs and port fees to differing climate rules and export restrictions, a wave of regional policies is adding complexity and cost to trade. For exporters, importers and consumers, that means more uncertainty about prices, routes and delivery times.
For carriers, it means constantly adjusting global networks to keep cargo moving.
Decarbonisation: where we need ambition and alignment
The direction of travel is clear: shipping is gearing up to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Shipping Council is strongly behind that goal. Our members are making long-term commitments to build the ships and prepare the supply chains that a net-zero future will need.
What has lagged behind this ambition is the global regulatory framework that will make those fuels competitive and widely available.
Unfortunately, the IMO decision on the Net Zero Framework was postponed in October 2025, leaving another year without the clarity needed to accelerate the transition. What has not changed is the fundamental point: a global solution remains the most efficient, affordable and effective way to get international shipping to net-zero.
