The United States is currently investigating allegations that certain Chinese shipping container manufacturers intentionally reduced their production levels just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This investigation, reported by CBS on May 19, 2026, suggests that the actions of these companies may have significantly contributed to the global shortage of shipping containers, which in turn led to widespread supply chain disruptions and increased transportation costs worldwide. A small group of Chinese firms, which collectively control a substantial portion of the global market for unrefrigerated shipping containers, are at the center of this inquiry. Reports indicate that several executives from these companies have been indicted, with formal charges anticipated to be unsealed soon. The U.S. Department of Justice has not provided any comments regarding the investigation. This scrutiny of Chinese shipping firms comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, underscored by a recent visit from President Donald Trump to China that yielded no significant progress on trade matters.