Readout of Secretary Buttigieg’s Meeting with Ocean Shippers

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen supply chains and bring down costs, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg convened major retailers, manufacturers, and other businesses that depend on ocean shipping to discuss present and future challenges related to America’s supply chain and the need to monitor and prepare for any number of disrupting events, from continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, to drought conditions and potential interruptions in service. In addition, Secretary Buttigieg pressed participants to return their business to the Port of Baltimore following its full reopening in June. During the meeting, industry leaders provided updates related to the cost of ocean shipping, concerns regarding the diversion of cargo due to disrupting events, and the benefits of the FLOW initiative, DOT’s secure data-sharing system that has helped coordinate stakeholders involved in global supply chains.