The U.S. Shipbuilding Revival Plan: The Trump Administration Addresses a Structural Vulnerability to China in the Maritime Sector

On February 13, 2026, the Trump administration released a plan to revive U.S. shipbuilding and other maritime enterprises, funded by port fees on cargo delivered to the United States on Chinese-built vessels.

The Maritime Action Plan offers a roadmap for reviving U.S. shipbuilding, which has declined since World War II and now significantly lags behind China and other countries, such as Japan and South Korea.

By its function, this plan goes beyond industrial policy. Washington acknowledges that Beijing has concentrated control over three critical links in global logistics simultaneously: ship production, port infrastructure management, and operational access to key transit routes.