Sanctions on Russia disrupt China’s ambitions to shift more exports to Europe, a setback for the $4 trillion effort championed by the Chinese leader Xi Jinping cement his country as the world’s preeminent trading partner. Although the European Union has yet to officially ban imports going through Russia, inbound rail freight shipments have virtually frozen, according to freight forwarders. Shipping container shipping from China along a 7,500-mile corridor that crosses Russia and stretches to the UK is a core part of Belt and Road, a years-long endeavor that includes investments to connect China to Europe by land and sea.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 02, 2022 18:35 UTC