That is an exceptional challenge. It is exceptional not only because it is very large. It is exceptional because liner shipping is also one of the most competitive of industries. I d like to address that sentiment. First, let s start with the obvious.
Foreign capital is a critical component of America s economic growth.
We should be grateful for that fact. It s more than a little difficult to follow the logic that it s OK for Ford to buy Volvo and Jaguar, but it s a concern when Daimler buys Chrysler. It moves two-thirds of the value of America s international commerce. It is an essential link in the efficient delivery of that trade. It is an essential investor in the transportation infrastructure that carries our country s international commerce, with hundred of thousands of containers, hundreds of ships, numerous marine terminals, and the plethora of IT systems and equipment necessary to serve U.S. importers and exporters.