Wedged across the Suez canal since March 23, “Ever-Given”, a 200,000 tonne giant container ship chartered by Taiwanese shipowner Evergreen, was finally refloated on March 29, freeing some 400 vessels that were stranded for a week. 

The Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the key waterways for transporting raw materials and goods. Accounting for some 12% of world trade volume, mainly Chinese manufactured goods, it is a central trade hub for the EU as it is the main sea route to Asia. 

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