The USTR Section 301 hearings this week on China’s influence in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors heard stakeholders from agriculture, energy, and maritime sectors express concerns about potential cost increases, supply chain disruptions, and reduced competitiveness for US exports. Despite industry pushback, most of the interest groups support measures to reduce reliance on China and rebuild US shipbuilding capacity. Canada’s Chamber of Marine Commerce, in addition to other Canadian operators representing the “laker fleet,” advocated for measures that would protect in-land and coastal shipping. The USTR is now reviewing the feedback and will issue recommendations in the coming weeks.
