On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed a series of fees on Chinese-owned and -operated vessels, Chinese-built vessels, and foreign-built car carriers starting in October 2025. The USTR also proposed additional duties on Chinese-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes and certain cargo handling equipment. The range of fees, the application of the fees to car carriers not connected with China, and the crane fees are all new and did not appear in the USTR’s February 2025 proposal.

Cybersecurity requirements for contractors doing business with the U.S. federal government are nothing new. 

On April 9, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.” The EO directs a range executive actions – mainly executive reports to outline further action and to propose new legislation – all to promote the U.S. merchant marine including U.S. shipbuilding.