Hapag-Lloyd’s general rate increase for Transpacific routes from Asia to the U.S. comes during the annual contract setting round. Others including Maersk and CMA-CGM may follow suit after increasing Asia-to-LatAm prices recently. Transpacific rates to the U.S. west coast have fallen 13% since the start of the year, while China-outbound rates more generally have dropped to their lowest since October 2016. The seasonal rebound after the lunar new year has not emerged, and China port volume growth appears lackluster. When added to forthcoming duties on trade between the U.S. and China a wea...