Two senior Democratic senators have pressed the Trump administration to bring back port fees targeting Chinese ships, emphasizing the need to revitalize the US shipbuilding sector and enhance national security. They warned that the suspension of these fees risks further decline of America’s maritime industry as China tightens its grip on global ship production.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Kelly addressed their concerns in a letter to the US Trade Representative, urging the reinstatement of Section 301 fees and restrictions on Chinese-owned and operated vessels entering US ports. They argued that these measures are central to reversing the significant erosion of American shipyard capacity and curbing China’s dominance in a strategically critical industry.
The senators highlighted that China’s rise in shipbuilding has been steep. While Chinese shipyards accounted for less than five percent of global commercial ship production two decades ago, they now represent over half of the market. In stark contrast, US shipyards produced a mere 0.1 percent of oceangoing commercial vessels last year. This imbalance presents both economic and strategic challenges, as heavy Chinese state subsidies have fueled their shipbuilding expansion.
Their letter cited that the Biden administration initiated an investigation under Section 301 into China’s shipbuilding tactics. The Trump administration later proposed fees intended to penalize Chinese-built, owned, and operated ships calling at US ports. These threats appeared to curb Chinese orders significantly, with reported drops of over 23 percent in the first three quarters of 2025.
However, the senators criticized Trump’s decision to suspend the fees for a year amid ongoing trade talks with Beijing. They linked this waiver to concessions on sensitive trade issues such as China’s export restrictions on critical minerals essential for military and semiconductor technologies. The pause, according to Warren and Kelly, soon led to a rebound in Chinese shipyard orders, undermining US efforts to restore its maritime industrial base.
The lawmakers warned that delaying or abandoning the fees threatens the economic viability of American shipbuilders and weakens national security by deepening dependence on Chinese maritime production. They stressed bipartisan recognition of the risks posed by China’s maritime policies and called on the administration to take firm measures to protect US industry and workers.