Maritime Executive Order

President Trump signed an Executive Order today directing a full-scale effort to rebuild U.S. commercial shipbuilding and maritime labor capacity, citing national security risks from decades of decline.

“The United States constructs less than one percent of commercial ships globally, while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is responsible for approximately half,” the order states. The President called this imbalance a threat to U.S. security and sovereignty.

The order mandates a Maritime Action Plan (MAP) within 210 days, led by the National Security Advisor and coordinated across departments.

Key Actions

• Defense Mobilization: The Defense Department must assess use of the Defense Production Act and private capital to expand shipbuilding and repair infrastructure.

• Trade Enforcement: The U.S. Trade Representative will act on findings from the Section 301 Investigation of the PRC’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors, including tariffs on PRC-made cranes and cargo equipment.

• Customs and Fee Enforcement: Homeland Security will close loopholes in the Harbor Maintenance Fee by targeting goods routed through Canada or Mexico.

• Allied Coordination: The USTR must develop a plan to align allied trade policies with U.S. maritime goals.

• Foreign Investment in U.S. Shipbuilding: Commerce will propose incentives for allied firms to invest in American yards.

Industry and Workforce Measures

• Maritime Security Trust Fund: OMB will propose a dedicated funding source for shipbuilding programs.

• Shipyard Investment Program: Transportation will design grants and loans to modernize shipyards and repair facilities.

• Maritime Prosperity Zones: New investment zones will be modeled after 2017’s Opportunity Zones, targeting river regions and Great Lakes ports.

• Mariner Training: Agencies will recommend expanding academies, streamlining credentials, and launching U.S. and foreign scholarship programs.

Strategic Security

• Fleet Expansion: A plan will increase U.S.-flagged commercial vessels for use in crises.

• Arctic Strategy: Defense will submit a strategy for securing Arctic waters.

• Inactive Fleet Readiness: A review will guide funding and mobilization plans for reserve vessels.

Procurement and Deregulation

• Procurement Reform: Agencies will propose streamlined acquisition practices to reduce delays and spur shipyard investment.

• Regulatory Review: Agencies must identify and remove unnecessary maritime regulations under Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.

[Executive Order]