The Shipping Federation’s Annual Conference in Montreal on May 14 was a tremendous success, bringing together attendees from across the marine sector and supply chain to discuss the Outlook for International Shipping and the challenges and opportunities shaping global trade.
Thank you to our outstanding speakers for sharing their expertise and insights:
- Pascal Chan of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce explored the intersection of trade, tariffs, politics, and economic competitiveness, with a focus on Canada’s trade agenda and transportation priorities. In a context of mounting trade uncertainty, Canada must strengthen its economic competitiveness by reducing internal barriers, investing in transportation infrastructure, and modernizing trade policy.
- Lars Jensen of Vespucci Maritime examined the evolving global shipping landscape, including geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, trade flows, and the outlook for container shipping markets. Global shipping continues to face significant uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions, reinforcing the need for resilience and adaptability across the industry.
- Sara Colburne of Sandstone Group highlighted how effective government relations and advocacy can help strengthen Canada’s trade agenda and maximize the role of international shipping in economic growth. Effective advocacy in today’s environment requires clear messaging, strong data, and coordinated engagement to ensure the marine sector’s role in Canada’s trade agenda is fully recognized.
We were also pleased to provide an overview of the Federation’s Trade Analysis of Canada’s International Cargo Flows, the first ever study of its kind with granular insights into the volumes and value of Canada’s main import and export commodities carried by international ships. Stay tuned for more on this exciting study!
Thank you to our generous sponsors and to everyone who joined us in Montreal for an engaging day of discussion, networking, and collaboration. We look forward to continuing these important conversations with industry partners across Canada.
