Top experts predict Trump is trying to pull off the impossible yet again.
President Donald Trump is making waves—this time by revitalizing America’s neglected shipbuilding industry. In a powerful executive order signed on April 10, Trump is taking direct aim at China’s shipbuilding monopoly and pledging to restore American maritime strength for economic and national security.
America First: Trump’s Maritime Action Plan
The executive order mandates a Maritime Action Plan that tasks federal agencies with reversing decades of decline in U.S. shipbuilding. The plan includes a strategic assessment of:
- Defense Production Act resources
- A new Maritime Security Trust Fund
- Partnerships with American allies and shipbuilders abroad
- Capital support through the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital
- Grant programs to fuel industrial growth
At the heart of the order is a clear directive: stop depending on foreign adversaries like China and rebuild an American shipbuilding base capable of supporting our economy, our military, and our future.
China Builds. America Buys? Not Under Trump.
The numbers tell the story. China now produces over 50% of the world’s ships, while the U.S. contributes a tiny 0.1%. That dangerous imbalance threatens American sovereignty, commerce, and wartime readiness.
Trump’s executive order confronts this crisis head-on by ordering the U.S. Trade Representative to produce a full report on China’s anticompetitive practices—from government subsidies to unfair trade barriers that undercut American industry.
Experts Say Investment Isn’t Enough—Demand Must Grow
According to Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute, restoring America’s shipyards isn’t just about spending money. It’s about creating sustained demand for American-made ships. Without that demand, no amount of federal funding will make a difference.
“Even with foreign assistance, we won’t compete with China unless we boost the market for U.S.-built vessels,” Clark explained.
That’s why the executive order complements the SHIPS for America Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in late 2024. The legislation aims to create a Strategic Commercial Fleet of 250 U.S.-flagged ships over the next decade—American-built, American-owned, and ready to serve during military emergencies.
What About the Jones Act? A Hot Debate in D.C.
Trump’s push for shipbuilding revival may challenge the nearly century-old Jones Act, which restricts shipping between U.S. ports to American-built and operated vessels. The law, meant to safeguard U.S. maritime strength, now faces scrutiny for raising costs and choking innovation.
Economists like Veronique de Rugy argue the Jones Act is doing more harm than good.
“If we’re serious about reviving U.S. shipping, repealing the Jones Act must be the first step,” she told Fox News Digital.
Still, repealing or reforming the law won’t be easy. It enjoys deep bipartisan support in Congress—though some experts say that support has allowed the U.S. industry to stagnate under the illusion of protection.
America’s Future Is on the Water
President Trump’s actions mark the most significant federal push to revive American shipbuilding in generations. While challenges remain, his commitment to strong borders, a strong military, and economic self-reliance is once again setting him apart from decades of failed globalist policies.
In the face of China’s rising power, Trump is delivering exactly what voters demanded: leadership that puts America first.