The White House's Maritime Action Plan aims to boost US shipbuilding and impose fees on foreign vessels, enhancing cargo rules and trade measures.
The White House has unveiled a Maritime Action Plan aimed at rebuilding US shipbuilding and reducing reliance on foreign vessels, reports London's Loadstar.
The plan proposes a universal fee on foreign-built commercial vessels calling at US ports, assessed by cargo weight. Illustrative figures suggest US$0.01 per kg could raise $66 billion over 10 years, while $0.25 per kg could raise $1.5 trillion. Nearly all global container ships are foreign-built, meaning the fee would act as a surcharge on international carriers.
The plan also seeks to tighten cargo preference rules by increasing the share of US government cargo carried on US-flagged vessels and introducing a new requirement for high-volume exporters to ship more US-bound containerized cargo on qualifying US vessels.
To prevent diversion via Canada or Mexico, a 0.125 percent tax on goods entering through land ports is proposed, mirroring the Harbor Maintenance Fee. This would reduce routing flexibility for shippers using cross-border intermodal strategies.
The plan calls for creating a Strategic Commercial Fleet of US-built, US-flagged vessels, supported financially for construction and operation. It also references potential trade measures linked to China's dominance in shipbuilding and logistics, including service fees and restrictions.
Long-term priorities include Arctic route development, expanded ice-breaking capability, and investment in autonomous maritime systems.
None of the measures are yet in force. Legislative action is required, with proposals expected after the FY2027 budget process. International carriers will need to monitor developments on vessel fees, cargo preference expansion, and the possible revival of Section 301 maritime measures.
