In April 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced decisive measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to counteract China’s aggressive strategies in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. This action follows a comprehensive year-long investigation initiated by petitions from five major U.S. labor unions, which highlighted China’s extensive state subsidies and non-market practices aimed at dominating these critical industries. The USTR’s findings concluded that China’s actions are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce, making them actionable under U.S. trade law.
To address these concerns, the USTR proposed implementing substantial entry fees for Chinese-built vessels docking at U.S. ports, with charges reaching up to $1.5 million per entry. Additionally, the measures include incentives for using U.S.-built ships and restrictions on Chinese digital logistics platforms like LOGINK. These initiatives aim to reduce dependency on Chinese maritime infrastructure, bolster domestic shipbuilding capabilities, and enhance the resilience of U.S. supply chains.
The USTR’s actions have garnered bipartisan support, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of revitalizing America’s maritime industries to safeguard national security and economic interests. Ambassador Jamieson Greer stated, “Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce.” The measures are designed to incentivize investment in U.S. shipbuilding and reduce vulnerabilities arising from overreliance on foreign-controlled maritime assets.