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Trump's plan to revive the US shipbuilding industry has

Date锛�2025-03-25 20:54Editer锛歛dminRead锛�锛�

According to Global Times, on March 24th local time, executives from multiple industries across the United States issued warnings during a hearing held at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that the Trump administration's plan to "revive the US shipbuilding industry" may backfire. The plan intends to impose fees on ships associated with China, which will not only impact domestic ship operators and exporters in the United States, but also have a negative impact on related employment.
This plan has sparked a strong rebound in the US shipping industry. Edward Gonzalez, CEO of Seaboard Marine, the largest international shipping company in the United States, said at the hearing, "If efforts to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry unintentionally destroy domestic shipping companies in the United States, it will not be in the national interest." Casey Metcalfe, CEO of the American Shipping Association, also pointed out that replacing Chinese ships used in the shipping process is not an easy task. "Punishing China also punishes the American shipping system, which is an unacceptable result
The domestic ship operators in the United States undertake the transportation of goods in key industries such as manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. Affected by the plan, some agricultural exporters in the United States have stated that due to unclear policy prospects, it is difficult to book shipping capacity after May; The coal industry representative stated that the proposed new fees will further hinder the export of products to the international market. Mike Cohen, a member of the board of directors of the American Soybean Association, called for "promoting the development of the domestic shipbuilding industry while ensuring that market access for farmers is not sacrificed
On the 6th of this month, Reuters revealed a draft executive order from the White House, stating that the United States plans to charge fees for any vessels built by China or flying the Chinese flag that dock at US ports. The Trump administration claimed that this move would "contain China" and promote the development of the domestic shipbuilding industry in the United States, but this idea has sparked widespread backlash domestically.
In response to this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on March 10 that measures such as levying port fees and imposing tariffs on cargo handling equipment are harmful to others and oneself. They not only increase global shipping costs, disrupt global supply chain stability, but also increase domestic inflation pressure in the United States, harm the interests of American consumers and businesses, and ultimately fail to revitalize the US shipbuilding industry. The Chinese side urges the US to respect facts and multilateral rules, immediately stop erroneous practices, and take necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.
Reuters reported that the Office of the United States Trade Representative will finalize the proposal after hearing more opinions at a hearing on March 26th. As of now, the Office of the United States Trade Representative has not responded to any requests for comment.