严峻问题——经济、燃油或本、运力、码头运输工人联盟谈判产生了不确定性

Tough questions

今年关于太平洋航线有两个不确定因素，即美国进口量增长将会大大放缓，同时美国出口量会继续增加。因此，几乎所有其他的问题都是不确定的：进口量是否会增长还是会减少？航运公司是否会随着船只规模的增加，而为贸易业务分配更多运力，或者仅仅保持现有运力？他们是否能够成功增加运费以弥补成本的增长？发货人是否同意支付完全不固定的船舶燃油附加费？

There are only two certainties this year on the trans-Pacific:U.S.import growth will be sluggish at best,and U.S.exports will continue to increase.Almost everything else is a question mark:Will import volumes grow,or contract? Will the liner companies deploy more capacity in the trade as their fleets increase in size,or will they keep it flat? Will they succeed in getting rate increases that cover their soaring costs? Will shippers agree to pay for a fully floating bunker fuel surcharge? It 's too early to answer these questions,but a look at the issues behind the questions helps frame shippers' and carriers' positions.