Baldwin Successfully Pushes Trump to Punish China for Cheating American Workers and Shipbuilders
Trump Administration action stems from Baldwin-backed investigation and report that showed unfair practices that undermine American workers and companies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced penalties against China for its unfair trade practices in the shipbuilding industry that undermine American workers. The penalties come as a result of the investigation Baldwin backed under the Biden Administration into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. That United States Trade Representative (USTR) investigation showed China’s unfair, targeted efforts to dominate the shipbuilding and maritime industry and paved the way for the incoming administration to implement remedies and level the playing field.
The penalties include new measures to combat China’s cheating, including fees for Chinese ships that dock at U.S. ports, based on how big they are and how often they visit. The fees will increase incrementally over the following years. There will also be extra charges for companies using ships built in China, again based on the size of the ship or how many containers they carry, with the fees increasing over time. To encourage the use of ships built in the U.S., foreign-built car carriers will have to pay additional fees based on how much they can carry. A second round of changes, which won’t start for three years, will aim to promote U.S.-built ships that carry liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will place limits on using foreign ships for LNG transport. Senator Baldwin will continue to work with the administration and stakeholders to ensure that these trade remedies are adjusted and updated as needed.
Last March, Senator Baldwin joined United Steelworkers and other labor leaders in support of the American shipbuilding industry and to call on the United States Trade Representative to conduct a full investigation. In April 2024, the USTR announced they were heeding that call and launching an investigation into China, concluding in a report that China targeted dominance in these sectors is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and is therefore “actionable” under Section 301. This report laid the groundwork for the Trump Administration to impose appropriate penalties on China to support American workers. In January, Senator Baldwin applauded this USTR report outlining China’s unfair trade practices to undercut American shipbuilding and called on the President to act. In February, Baldwin led a group of her colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to act on the results of the investigation and take immediate action to level the playing field for American workers, businesses, and national security.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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