Trump Order Revamps Shipbuilding, Counters China

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry to counter China's growing dominance in global shipping. The order directs the U.S. Trade Representative to implement port fees on fleets with Chinese-built or flagged vessels and asks the Department of Homeland Security to enforce these fees. This initiative has gained bipartisan support amid concerns about U.S. naval readiness and economic impacts. Trump has also signed orders to streamline foreign military sales, potentially boosting exports for defense contractors, and appointed Elon Musk to lead a task force to review and improve shipbuilding processes. However, some Democratic lawmakers have expressed skepticism about the efficacy of these plans. These actions reflect broader attempts by the Trump administration to enhance U.S. industrial capacity and reduce reliance on foreign-built vessels.