Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
The Trump administration on Tuesday rolled out a sweeping maritime plan aimed at reasserting U.S. dominance in shipping and reducing reliance on foreign-built vessels. Officials say the strategy is intended to strengthen national security, boost domestic industry, and ensure America controls the vessels carrying half its international trade.
Dubbed the “Maritime Action Plan,” the more than 40-page blueprint outlines measures ranging from economic incentives to regulatory reform. Among the most eye-catching proposals is a universal fee on foreign-registered commercial ships entering U.S. ports. The fee would be based on cargo weight: one cent per kilogram could generate an estimated $66 billion over a decade, while a fee of 25 cents per kilogram could raise nearly $1.5 trillion.
“About 50% of our trade is transported by sea, and 99% of that is on ships built abroad, owned by foreigners, and flying foreign flags,” a senior administration official told reporters. “This plan ensures we regain control of the vessels critical to our economy and security.”
The plan also calls for the creation of maritime prosperity zones to attract private investment, reforms to workforce training and education, expansion of U.S.-built and flagged merchant ships, and a special financing fund to support domestic shipbuilding.
Administration officials highlighted the growing costs of building Navy warships as another driver of the plan. “The cost of U.S. Navy ships has risen far faster than inflation,” one official said, noting that a revitalized shipbuilding sector could help stabilize defense procurement costs over the long term.
Experts say the plan represents one of the most ambitious U.S. efforts in decades to restore domestic shipbuilding and shore up maritime security. It also marks a bold attempt to leverage economic policy to incentivize global shipping practices that favor American interests.
