WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States is investigating whether Chinese companies deliberately reduced global production of shipping containers just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, CBS reported on May 19, citing sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, several Chinese executives have been indicted, and the formal indictments were expected to be unsealed on May 19.

The investigation is focused on a small group of Chinese companies that together control most of the world's production of unrefrigerated shipping containers, CBS said.

Shipping containers are essential to global trade, and shortages during the pandemic contributed to supply chain disruptions and higher transportation costs worldwide.

Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor the companies involved immediately commented on the report.

The investigation comes amid continued trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

President Donald Trump visited China last week, but the trip produced no breakthroughs on trade issues between the world's two largest economies.