USTR Investigation Finds China’s Shipbuilding Dominance Hurts US

One labor union is calling on the incoming Trump administration to ‘implement strong remedies that level the playing field for American workers.’

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 14, 2024. Win McNamee/Getty Images

China’s dominance in the maritime industry is “unreasonable” and “restricts U.S. commerce,” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said on Jan. 16 following months of investigation.

The USTR, which launched the investigation in April last year in response to a petition filed by a group of labor unions, said China’s targeted dominance of the global shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors is “actionable” under U.S. trade law.