According to recent reports, there’s significant public support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry, reports Reuters.
Support For Action
A recent poll revealed that only 11% of respondents believe the U.S. can depend on China and other nations to construct ships for its commercial and military requirements. Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), emphasized the rare bipartisan agreement on the need to advance domestic shipbuilding, noting strong support on Capitol Hill for assertive action.
The AAM, a policy group representing the United Steelworkers union and domestic manufacturers, released the poll results prior to a hearing by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. This hearing will address proposed solutions, including levying up to $1.5 million in fees on Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports. The Trump administration’s proposed remedies, which also include requiring at least 1% of U.S. exports to be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels, followed a Biden administration investigation that concluded China unfairly dominates the global maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.
The investigation, initiated in April 2024 at the request of the United Steelworkers and four other unions, was conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Its aim is to revitalize a U.S. shipbuilding industry that has experienced significant decline since the 1970s, when Japan and South Korea emerged as dominant players.
Port Fees
The China Shipowners’ Association has voiced its opposition to the U.S. proposal to impose substantial port entry fees on ocean cargo carriers that own or have ordered vessels from China. They argue that this proposal violates both international rules and U.S. laws.
However, public support for these measures in the U.S. is reportedly strong, according to Scott Paul.
A recent poll revealed that:
- 68% of Americans believe that the U.S.’s capacity to build ships for both commercial and military purposes is a matter of national security.
- 71% support U.S. government investment in the domestic shipbuilding industry.
- 70% agree that using Chinese-built floating docks for the repair, maintenance, and retrofitting of U.S. military vessels poses a threat to U.S. national security.
- 49% of those polled support the implementation of a docking fee on Chinese vessels to stimulate U.S. shipbuilding.
- 56% favor a requirement that a percentage of U.S. exports be transported on U.S.-built vessels with U.S. crews.
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Source: Reuters
