President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order aimed at rebuilding the nation’s commercial shipbuilding industry and securing the maritime supply chain. The order directs more than a dozen federal agencies to produce a comprehensive Maritime Action Plan (MAP) by November, with the goal of reducing U.S. dependence on China and modernizing logistics infrastructure.
The U.S. currently builds less than one percent of the world’s commercial ships, while China produces nearly half. The order states that decades of federal neglect have weakened America’s maritime industrial base, which is vital for national security and global trade.
Among the biggest supply chain implications is that the order targets Chinese dominance in port equipment manufacturing by proposing new tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo handling gear with ties to the PRC. It also aims to close a Harbor Maintenance Fee loophole by penalizing ocean cargo that enters the U.S. via land routes through Canada and Mexico to avoid port charges.
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To stabilize long-term funding, the order proposes a Maritime Security Trust Fund and a new financial incentives program to upgrade shipyards, repair facilities, and component supply chains. Both aim to draw private investment into modernizing critical maritime infrastructure that supports trade and transportation.
“Every single part of the maritime logistics ecosystem is touched by this order—from port cranes to inland customs routes to workforce training,” said Matthew Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders Council of America. “This could be a turning point for U.S. supply chain resiliency.”
The order also calls for overhauling government vessel procurement, an Arctic strategy, and expanded education pathways to address labor shortages in shipbuilding and maritime operations.
