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US lawmakers weigh tariffs and sanctions on China shipbuilding
Lawmakers at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing discussed using targeted tariffs, port entry fees, and potential sanctions on Chinese state-owned shipbuilders, while witnesses warned penalties alone may not rebuild US commercial capacity.
US lawmakers are examining proposals that would target China’s commercial shipbuilding industry with measures that include tariffs, port entry fees, and sanctions, as Congress looks for ways to rebuild the United States’ diminished commercial fleet without raising costs for US importers and consumers, according to SCMP Economy.
At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, lawmakers cited China’s dominance of commercial shipbuilding as both an economic and national security vulnerability. Representatives including Young Kim and Ami Bera raised questions about whether targeted trade penalties could help the US catch up.
The article says witnesses cautioned that penalties alone may not be enough to restore US shipbuilding capacity, noting that shipbuilding is closely tied to naval power. It also reiterates that Washington has accused Beijing of state support for its shipbuilding expansion, a claim China denies.