BERLIN, Oct 16 Reuters Freight trade is ramping up considerably in the runup to the U.S. presidential election amid fears over rising protectionism in the world39;s biggest economy, the head of German logistics company HHLA said in a media interview published on Wednesday.

The risk that a new U.S. administration will also tighten its economic protectionism with further tariff restrictions has triggered a major pull effect, Angela Titzrath, CEO of HHLA, which is the main operator of Hamburg port, told the business magazine Capital.

It39;s incredible how trade with the U.S. has picked up this year, Titzrath said. Stocks are being ordered before the election results and fed into the global flow of goods.

Titzrath said this reinforces a positive trend for HHLA, which is bringing Swissbased MSC the world39;s biggest container shipping group on board as an investor.

HHLA39;s revenue rose 4.6 in the first half of the year and earnings increased by almost 16, Titzrath told Capital.

The United States goes to the polls on Nov. 5 to elect a new president, with Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump vying to succeed Joe Biden.

Writing by Rachel More; Editing by Eileen Soreng

Source Reuters