U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order for the creation of an action plan aiming to revitalize the American maritime industry.
A new Executive Order directs the creation of a Maritime Action Plan (MAP) to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry by removing regulatory barriers and seeking to improve government procurement processes.
The Order tasks the U.S. Trade Representative with addressing China’s “anticompetitive” practices in shipbuilding and directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to enforce fees on foreign cargo to prevent tariff circumvention through Canada or Mexico.
Moreover it establishes a Maritime Security Trust Fund and a shipbuilding incentives program to boost private investment.
As stated, Trump’s Executive Order also creates Maritime Prosperity Zones to attract development in waterfront communities and expands mariner training through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, as well as aiming to grow the U.S.-flagged commercial fleet for domestic and international trade. Additionally, the MAP will include a strategy to strengthen U.S. presence in Arctic waterways.
During the joint address to Congress, President Trump vowed to “resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding” and has also established a new Office of Maritime and Industrial Capacity at the National Security Council in the White House.
