Four of the largest unions in the United States are calling on the Trump administration to boost the country’s shipbuilding capacity, over fears that China’s growing maritime influence poses a threat to national security.
According to the Associated Press, the heads of the United Steelworkers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers signed onto a letter urging President Donald Trump to impose “tough penalties” on vessels built by China, and enact policies to revive U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
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In the letter, the unions estimate that China manufactured more than 1,000 ships in 2023, compared to fewer than 10 made by the U.S. in that same year. It went on to assert that the Chinese government poured more than $100 billion into the country’s shipbuilding industry between 2010 and 2018, and that Chinese shipyards accounted for the majority of orders globally in 2024.
Similar concerns were raised by U.S. unions and lawmakers during the Biden administration. In March 2024, United Steelworkers called on President Biden to investigate China’s shipbuilding industry, claiming that China has been “choking out all competitors” by unfairly subsidizing domestic steel production. A bipartisan coalition in Congress also introduced a bill in December 2024 seeking to provide tax credits to incentivize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, appoint a maritime security advisor to the White House, and invest in new infrastructure to support manufacturing.
“For far too long, the United States neglected our maritime industries and the critical role they play in our national and economic security,” one of the bill’s sponsors Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) said at the time.
Trump and his allies have appeared amenable to the idea of fighting back against China’s maritime dominance as well, with the president commenting on his concerns over U.S. shipbuilding capacity in early January, where he lamented over how “we don’t build ships anymore.” In September 2024, then-Congressman Mike Waltz — who now serves as Trump’s national security advisor — also spoke of fears that China could use its shipbuilding advantage to “turn off our entire economy.”
