World Shipping Council (WSC) President & CEO Joe Kramek has voiced strong support for the U.S. administration’s new plan to rebuild the American shipbuilding industry.
The initiative, signed on 9 April, includes public-private investments, workforce development, and targeted incentives to enhance shipbuilding capacity. Kramek emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and sustained strategy, developed jointly by the Administration and Congress, to ensure the revitalization of the U.S. maritime sector.
Joe Kramek noted that the Executive Order reflects a serious commitment to strengthening the maritime industry and expressed hope that policymakers avoid retroactive port fees, which he warned could harm the entire supply chain—from consumers to producers.
Given the direction of this Executive Order and the comments made by the U.S. Trade Representative earlier this week, the World Shipping Council is hopeful the USTR recognizes that alternative measures to impose retroactive port fees would disadvantage all aspects of the supply chain – from consumers to farmers, from energy producers to manufacturers,
… Joe Kramek said.
Kramek highlighted the economic impact of liner shipping, which adds $2 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports 6.4 million jobs. He reaffirmed the World Shipping Council’s readiness to work with the administration, offering constructive proposals to help drive long-term growth and resilience in the industry.
