Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment this week, targeting seven Chinese executives for a global conspiracy to squeeze American commerce. The indictment, unsealed by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, accuses four of the world’s largest shipping container manufacturers of fixing prices and restricting output. These firms, including China International Marine Containers, allegedly colluded to ensure that the cold steel boxes that carry the world's goods remained scarce and expensive.

For the American small business owner, the result of this conspiracy is found in the ledger book. The restriction of "standard dry shipping containers" has driven up the cost of every tool, toy, and tractor that crosses the ocean. According to VitalLaw, the defendants are organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and have sought to dominate the global logistics market through illegal coordination. This is a direct assault on the principles of fair play and the freedom of the marketplace.

In a related blow to the American table, agricultural commodities continue to face volatility as the spring planting season nears its end. Corn prices fell to $4.69 per bushel on Wednesday, while soybeans dropped to $12.03, according to Successful Farming. These numbers represent more than just market data; they are the thin margins upon which the family farm survives. When foreign cartels fix the price of transport and global blockades choke the supply of fertilizer, the independence of the American farmer is placed in terminal jeopardy.