Chinese shipping policy is creating threats to both broking and ship chartering business, as third-party contracts of all kinds are falling under suspicion. State company executives have become hesitant to put their names on contracts for fear of having to explain their reasoning to regulators or even prosecutors some time in the future.

“It is a threat to our business as brokers,” said one top China official with a global shipbroking company, who was unwilling to be named

But numerous Shanghai-based brokers say they are familiar with his opinion and concur.

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