U.S. senators from both parties have urged President Donald Trump to maintain planned trade measures targeting China’s shipbuilding sector ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning that Beijing’s dominance threatens American industry and national security.
In a letter sent Monday, Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin and Mark Kelly joined Republicans Tim Scott and Todd Young in calling on Trump not to make concessions on maritime trade policies during talks with Xi this week in China.
The senators argued that China had spent decades working to “decimate American shipbuilding” through unfair state-backed practices and said Washington must use trade tools aggressively to rebuild domestic shipyards and protect U.S. economic interests.
The appeal comes after Washington and Beijing agreed in October to temporarily suspend retaliatory port fees on each other’s ships for one year, delaying the resumption of U.S. fees on Chinese-built vessels until Nov. 10 unless another extension is reached.
The United States first announced the port fees in April 2025 following a federal investigation that concluded China’s growing control over global shipping, logistics and shipbuilding was fueled by unfair subsidies and market practices.
Trump is expected to meet Xi on Thursday and Friday at a summit expected to focus heavily on the ongoing Iran war, which has further strained ties between the world’s two largest economies. China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil despite pressure from Washington.
“The United States is at an inflection point and cannot cede additional ground to the People’s Republic of China,” the senators wrote. They urged Trump to “stand strong” in negotiations and support the proposed SHIPS for America Act aimed at reviving U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Trump remained committed to strengthening the American shipbuilding industry, including through a $43 billion initiative to build a new class of U.S. Navy warships, but declined to comment directly on the future of the port fees.
The SHIPS for America Act, introduced in Congress last year, would provide tax incentives for investment in U.S. shipyards and authorize $2.5 billion over the next decade for domestic shipbuilding projects.
China’s share of the global shipbuilding market has surged from roughly 5% in 2000 to more than 50% by 2023, helped largely by government subsidies. In contrast, U.S. shipbuilders now account for less than 1% of the global industry, with South Korea and Japan ranking behind China.
The senators noted that the threat of U.S. port fees previously triggered a sharp decline in Chinese shipyard orders, demonstrating that pressure from Washington could reshape global maritime markets.
“The sudden decrease in Chinese shipping orders shows that when your Administration acts on this issue, the global maritime industry pays attention,” the lawmakers wrote, describing the fees as a critical step to expand America’s industrial base and protect national security.