The United States should consider establishing a publicly backed container shipping line to reduce its dependence on foreign carriers, according to a new report from the Open Markets Institute.

The Washington-based antimonopoly group says six overseas-owned liner companies control nearly 80% of global container capacity and more than 90% of US trade on major routes, describing the market concentration as a “container cartel”.

In a report titled Creating a Publicly Accountable Ocean Supply Chain, the institute argues that four decades of deregulation, consolidation and alliance-building have left US importers, exporters and defence planners exposed to decisions made by companies headquartered abroad.

The study says America’s internationally trading, US-flagged container fleet has fallen to 58 ships, accounting for less than 1% of the global total. It warns that the country depends on foreign carriers not only for consumer supply chains, but also for sealift during emergencies, making the question of shipping access relevant well beyond freight rates alone.

Arnav Rao, the report’s author, said container shipping should be treated as critical infrastructure. The report alleges that dominant carriers can exploit opaque service contracts, discriminatory pricing, blanked sailings, cargo delays and surcharges, with smaller exporters and manufacturers bearing the greatest burden.

Its most far-reaching recommendation is the creation of a public container shipping option that could guarantee access to overseas markets when private carriers fail to provide reliable or nondiscriminatory service.

Other proposals include tighter Federal Maritime Commission scrutiny of global alliances, the restoration of common-carrier protections, greater support for US-flagged tonnage and expanded mariner training.

Carrier cooperation agreements are already filed with and monitored by the FMC and can receive exemptions from US antitrust law. The regulator requires extensive reporting from alliances and can seek an injunction if reduced competition results in unreasonable cost increases or deteriorating service.

The report argues, however, that monitoring is not enough when the underlying fleet, crewing base and commercial capacity have shifted offshore. Its central message is that Washington cannot rebuild maritime resilience through shipyard subsidies alone and must also decide who controls access to the transport network linking American producers and consumers with the world.