'WE'RE way, way, way behind,' said US President Donald Trump, having just signed an executive order to revitalise shipbuilding and restore the US merchant fleet, reports London's Port Technology International.
'We used to build a ship a day, and now we don't do a ship a year, and we have the capacity to do it,' he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Democrats and Republicans mobilised in support of the order with Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat, and Todd Young, Republican, committing to reintroduce their bipartisan legislation to enable the congressional approvals required for the industry's revitalisation, reported Reuters.line.
Despite initial scepticism and concerns over subsequent supply chain disruptions, the order gives the US Trade Representative (USTR) the go-ahead with a levy of million-dollar US port docking tax.
These taxes target ships belonging to a fleet that includes Chinese-built or flagged vessels. However, stipulated remedies will not be identical to USTR's original proposal, according to USTR Jamieson Greer.
'This could have been a miscommunication issue; some people thought that all of those measures would be imposed,' Mr Greer said. 'Now we consider which of those measures is most appropriate.'
The order also directs the USTR to consider proposing tariffs on STS cranes and other cargo handling equipment with any trace of Chinese origin in its production, alongside those manufactured by companies controlled or substantially influenced by Chinese citizens, reported Reuters.
The Department of Homeland Security will also be required to enforce Harbour Maintenance fees and other charges while preventing attempts by cargo carriers from circumventing those fees through transporting cargo through alternative routes.
SeaNews Turkey
'We used to build a ship a day, and now we don't do a ship a year, and we have the capacity to do it,' he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Democrats and Republicans mobilised in support of the order with Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat, and Todd Young, Republican, committing to reintroduce their bipartisan legislation to enable the congressional approvals required for the industry's revitalisation, reported Reuters.line.
Despite initial scepticism and concerns over subsequent supply chain disruptions, the order gives the US Trade Representative (USTR) the go-ahead with a levy of million-dollar US port docking tax.
These taxes target ships belonging to a fleet that includes Chinese-built or flagged vessels. However, stipulated remedies will not be identical to USTR's original proposal, according to USTR Jamieson Greer.
'This could have been a miscommunication issue; some people thought that all of those measures would be imposed,' Mr Greer said. 'Now we consider which of those measures is most appropriate.'
The order also directs the USTR to consider proposing tariffs on STS cranes and other cargo handling equipment with any trace of Chinese origin in its production, alongside those manufactured by companies controlled or substantially influenced by Chinese citizens, reported Reuters.
The Department of Homeland Security will also be required to enforce Harbour Maintenance fees and other charges while preventing attempts by cargo carriers from circumventing those fees through transporting cargo through alternative routes.
SeaNews Turkey
