President Donald Trump announced plans to establish an office of shipbuilding in the White House and introduce new tax incentives for the industry during an address to Congress. This initiative is part of an effort to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding and reduce Chinese dominance in global maritime trade. The proposed executive order includes 18 measures, such as imposing fees on Chinese-built ships and cranes entering the U.S. China, as the world’s largest producer of container ships, has faced accusations of unfair trade practices in the maritime sector.

The Biden administration had previously criticized China for employing unjust policies to control the global maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. In response, China refuted these allegations, asserting that the U.S. was deflecting blame for its own challenges. The U.S. and its Western allies have raised concerns about China’s industrial strategies and excess steel production, prompting bipartisan support for bolstering U.S. shipbuilding capabilities.

Amidst strained Sino-U.S. relations, tensions have escalated over various issues, including trade tariffs, technological competition, COVID-19 origins, human rights, Taiwan’s sovereignty, Hong Kong security, and TikTok ownership. The proposed measures aim to address concerns about China’s industrial practices and reinforce the U.S. position in the global shipbuilding market.