Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance

The administration identifies weak domestic ship production and reliance on foreign competitors, especially China, as economic and national security risks. The order seeks more U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged vessels through investment, trade measures, workforce development, procurement reform, and dedicated funding.

What the order does ​

• Requires a Maritime Action Plan within 210 days covering shipbuilding, shipping, ports, supply chains, workforce needs, and national security.
• Directs agencies to develop financing, grants, loans, tax incentives, maritime prosperity zones, and a proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund for domestic maritime investment.
• Orders consideration and enforcement of tariffs, fees, penalties, and duties tied to China’s maritime sector, including possible tariffs on Chinese-origin cargo cranes and other handling equipment.
• Seeks full collection of harbor and customs charges on vessel cargo routed through Canada or Mexico, including a 10 percent service fee in specified cases.
• Calls for incentives that attract allied shipbuilders to invest in U.S. facilities and coordinates related trade actions with allies and partners.
• Directs reviews of cargo preferences, commercial-fleet subsidies, reserve-fleet readiness, Arctic maritime security, and U.S.-flagged vessel capacity for crises.
• Expands maritime education and training proposals, reforms mariner credentialing, creates scholarship concepts, and accelerates repairs and modernization at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
• Orders reforms to federal vessel procurement, ship design, regulatory requirements, and approval processes to reduce delays, costs, and barriers to emerging technology.

Who it affects ​

• U.S. commercial and defense shipbuilders, shipyards, repair facilities, component suppliers, ports, and waterfront communities.
• Mariners, shipbuilding workers, labor organizations, maritime students, training institutions, and military personnel seeking Merchant Marine careers.
• Cargo carriers, importers, port operators, and businesses using Chinese-origin cranes or other cargo-handling equipment.
• U.S.-flagged vessel operators, allied shipbuilders and investors, and federal agencies buying or operating vessels.

Context ​

The order primarily requires plans, reviews, and legislative proposals; many funding and policy changes still depend on agency action, appropriations, or congressional approval.