The Trump administration unveiled a comprehensive Maritime Action Plan on Feb. 13 meant to resurrect the U.S. shipbuilding sector, which has dwindled since World War II and has now fallen far behind China and other global competitors.
The 30-page-plus document details a strategy that includes the establishment of maritime prosperity zones to attract investment, reforms to workforce training and education programs, and growth of the U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged commercial fleet, creation of a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed partly by port fees on Chinese-made ships, and a decrease in regulatory burdens.
In April 2025, the administration announced port fees on Chinese-built ships, starting at $50 per net ton of cargo in mid-October 2025 and increasing annually to $140 per net ton by 2028. The measure was projected to create $3.2 billion annually from ships entering U.S. ports….
Trump Admin Unveils Maritime Action Plan to Revive US Shipbuilding
