US Considers Tariffs on Chinese Ships

The Trump administration is exploring a plan to strengthen the American shipbuilding industry and impose tariffs and other strong sanctions against China to curb its growing maritime dominance, according to Bloomberg.

The Office of the US Trade Representative has outlined a proposal to impose tariffs on Chinese ships transporting traded goods.

Additionally, the plan includes mandates requiring a portion of American products to be transported exclusively on US-built ships.

The move follows growing concerns from American labor unions, who argue that China’s maritime policies have harmed American workers and jeopardized national security.

Union leaders have called on President Trump to implement strict penalties on Chinese vessels.

The proposal, announced on Friday by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, stems from a trade investigation into China’s shipbuilding and maritime logistics practices.

The probe, initiated during the Biden administration, concluded with a report just four days before President Trump took office.

The US investigation found that China unfairly dominates the global maritime sector, prompting calls for urgent action to address the issue.

If adopted, the proposed tariffs could lead to higher costs for American consumers.

Additionally, it remains unclear whether the measures would be enough to revive the US shipbuilding industry, which has declined despite decades of protectionist policies aimed at promoting the use of American-built and operated vessels.