Page 16: of Marine News Magazine (April 2024)

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OpEd

Shipbuilding

U.S. Commercial Shipbuilding and Repair

Industry Ensures American Strength at Sea

By Matthew Paxton, President, Shipbuilders Council of America

As Senator Roger Wicker force, the U.S. is falling behind. China, Korea and Japan of Mississippi once said, “Growth in commercial ship- continue to dominate the world’s total tonnage—95% of building facilitates growth in the battle ? eet.” Sen. Wicker the world’s tonnage in fact—due to generous government- shrewdly recognizes that America’s manufacturing capac- backed subsidies and bailouts. ity and national security are deeply intertwined. A robust From 2010 to 2018 alone, China provided $132 billion commercial shipbuilding and repair industry is a critical in direct subsidies for commercial shipbuilding and has in- cornerstone of this capacity. vested billions more since then. China has historically used

For the shipyard industrial base to remain strong and this manipulation to saturate the shipbuilding market and competitive, American innovators need a forward-thinking drive out global competitors. comprehensive American maritime strategy, for Congress This economic warfare affects U.S. shipyards and U.S. to advance stable and predictable budgeting and recognize readiness. In fact, on March 12, Wisconsin Senator Tammy the importance of strengthening the Jones Act. Baldwin, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and the United

First, the U.S. must create a de? nable national maritime Steelworkers, among others, joined together to call for the strategy that bolsters the Pentagon’s National Defense In- U.S. Trade Representative to launch an investigation into dustrial Strategy, released earlier this year. As a maritime China’s unfair trade practices that are harming the Ameri-

Felix Castillo / U.S. Navy 16 | MN April 2024