Soren Skou has taken to his keyboard in defence of free trade during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a column in the Danish daily Borsen, the AP Moller-Maersk chief executive urged countries to resist moves towards protectionism.
The scarcity of medical supplies must not be used as an excuse for nations to close in on themselves, he warned.
"This will be equivalent to increasing taxes because the products will be more expensive than necessary," the CEO wrote.
"It can be tempting to highlight self-sufficiency as the way forward in an insecure world. But Covid-19 has shown us that it is precisely the global economy that is creating progress and resilience."
Shipping playing its part
Skou said flexible supply chains, digital infrastructure and free trade have been crucial for countries and companies to be able to provide vital services and supplies, even at a time when half of the world has been shut down.
He urged politicians to allow goods to move more freely as a solution to the global recession.
"Set trade free so that it can rebuild economies," Skou wrote.
"When you introduce barriers to trade, you raise..the tax for consumers and producers, which is detrimental to recovery. This is particularly important as growth in international trade was already stagnant before the Covid-19 crisis."
And Skou views the European Union as key in this, as it negotiates trade deals on behalf of Denmark.
"That is why it is absolutely central that we, as a small, open economy, support the EU as much as possible in our work to ensure free and fair global trade," the CEO added.
"If Denmark stood alone, we would not have a chance to achieve the attractive conditions we have today with many countries."
Lines have learned lessons
Following its second quarter results in August, Skou said on a conference call that he believes container lines have learned the lessons of previous crises and have changed tack during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A decade ago, lines were focused on winning market share. Now they have their sights trained on making money.
"In 2009, the thinking in Maersk and the whole industry was if you had a network you would have to keep sailing it and fill it up at all cost," Skou told the earnings webcast. "That approach has completely changed."
Maersk is forecasting Ebitda earnings of $6bn to $7bn this year.
