Shoei Kisen Kaisha, the owner of the Ever Given, reported the container ship had shifted position but remained grounded in 2021. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) stated the vessel’s course had been corrected by 80% through engineering efforts, with higher tides aiding the process.
The 400-meter ship’s blockage disrupted an estimated $9.6 billion in daily global trade. SCA head Osama Rabie suggested the grounding resulted from technical or human errors rather than weather conditions, following the vessel’s week-long entrapment in the canal.
Over 300 ships remained queued for the canal’s reopening as engineers worked to fully refloat the vessel. The Wall Street Journal noted the trade route could resume operations after partial refloating efforts in 2021.
US-China Trade Tensions ¶
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai confirmed the Biden administration would not lift sanctions on Chinese imports in 2021, intensifying diplomatic disputes. Tai acknowledged potential economic impacts but warned against premature tariff removal.
China retaliated by imposing counter-sanctions on U.S. and Canadian officials over Xinjiang-related human rights allegations. The measures targeted members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and a Canadian parliamentary subcommittee.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned China’s actions as "baseless," stating they risked further international scrutiny of human rights issues in Xinjiang. A March 28, 2021, tweet from Blinken emphasized condemnation of Beijing’s sanctions on U.S. officials.
Vaccine and Trade Updates ¶
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed using crude oil to secure coronavirus vaccines through the WHO’s COVAX program in 2021. He cited frozen funds and oil shipments as potential payment methods, citing available vessels and buyers.
Japan plans to introduce digital vaccine passports by summer 2021, aligning with China and the EU. The system will operate via a mobile app to facilitate international travel.
Venezuela’s oil exports declined after U.S. sanctions in 2019 targeted its state-owned oil company, complicating its ability to access global markets.
