World’s second-largest owner opens Washington office

In a sign of the times, Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), the world’s second-largest shipowner, will open a new office in Washington, DC.

“As global challenges continue to evolve-ranging from geopolitical uncertainties and stricter environmental regulations to increasingly intricate supply chains-strengthening cooperation with governments and international organizations has become more crucial than ever,” the company said in a release, maintaining the new office will facilitate the group’s outreach to federal agencies, congress, regulatory agencies, industry associations, and international organisations and embassies that serve as venues for multilateral consultations.

Since he returned to power on January 20, Donald Trump has made the day-to-day business of international shipping much more complex with tariff wars, extra fees on Chinese-built tonnage, pulling away from the International Maritime Organisation, as well as levelling ownership claims on the Panama Canal and Greenland.