Warren, Kelly Press Trump Admin to Support American Workers by Reinstating Port Fees on Chinese Ships

Skip to primary navigation Skip to content × Close Mobile Nav About About Elizabeth Committee Assignments About Massachusetts Voting Record Contact Share Your Opinion Help with a Federal Agency Office Locations Send me Updates Share Your CFPB Story Save Our Schools Services Help with a Federal Agency Return to Repayment Guide Visiting DC/Tours Flag Request Internships Meeting Requests Academy Nominations Special Recognitions Grants Small Businesses Veterans, Servicemembers and Military Families FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act Requests FY 2027 Appropriations Requests Oversight Reports Letters Social Security War Room Save Our Schools Campaign Legislation Newsroom News Coverage Press Releases Op-Eds Videos × Close Site Search search Elizabeth Warren Senator Elizabeth Warren's Facebook Page (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's BlueSky (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Twitter (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Youtube (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Instagram (This link opens in new window or tab.) About About Elizabeth Committee Assignments About Massachusetts Voting Record Contact Share Your Opinion Help with a Federal Agency Office Locations Send me Updates Share Your CFPB Story Save Our Schools Services Help with a Federal Agency Return to Repayment Guide Visiting DC/Tours Flag Request Internships Meeting Requests Academy Nominations Special Recognitions Grants Small Businesses Veterans, Servicemembers and Military Families FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act Requests FY 2027 Appropriations Requests Oversight Reports Letters Social Security War Room Save Our Schools Campaign Legislation Newsroom News Coverage Press Releases Op-Eds Videos Español Close Search Open Search Popup Popup Search Close Search Popup MENU Senator Elizabeth Warren's Facebook Page (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's BlueSky (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Twitter (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Youtube (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Instagram (This link opens in new window or tab.) Home Newsroom Press Releases June 08, 2026 Warren, Kelly Press Trump Admin to Support American Workers by Reinstating Port Fees on Chinese Ships Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) urged United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to protect American workers and promote domestic ship manufacturing by reinstating the Trade Act of 1974’s Section 301 port fees on Chinese ships. “Section 301 port fees [] are critical to revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding. Presidents of both parties have long recognized the serious threat that Chinese shipbuilding dominance poses to the United States, and…[these] fees and restrictions on Chinese vessels [] would have protected American shipbuilding businesses and workers,” wrote the senators . In 2000, China produced less than 5 percent of commercial ships. Last year, Chinese ships accounted for more than half of commercial ships produced worldwide. At the same time, U.S. shipyard production has almost entirely collapsed , accounting for only 0.1% of global production, leaving America’s economy reliant on Chinese ships. In the past, Presidents of both parties have recognized the threat of Chinese shipbuilding dominance and acted to counter it, including by investigating China’s targeting of maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding. As a result of a Biden-era investigation , the Trump administration initially proposed fees of up to $1 million on Chinese-owned and operated ships as well as restrictions on the use of non-U.S. built, flagged, or operated ships to transport U.S. goods. The prospect of these fees led to a 23.5 percent decrease in orders at Chinese shipyards in just nine months. But President Trump’s reckless trade war reversed this progress. China imposed its own fees on U.S. ships and massive tariffs on critical minerals used in military technology and semiconductors. As a result, the Trump administration made several concessions — including suspending the shipping fees and restrictions for one year — so China would drop its restrictions on critical minerals. Within days, the backlog of orders on hand at Chinese ports rose 25 percent . Even since suspending the fees, the Trump administration has reiterated the need to “reclaim America’s maritime strength” and generate “demand for U.S.-built ships, shipyards, and mariners,” in its “Maritime Action Plan.” “Without meaningful fees on Chinese vessels, this ‘plan’ is meaningless,” wrote the senators . “We urge the Administration to stand up for American shipbuilders and reinstate the fees and restrictions imposed pursuant to USTR’s section 301 investigation into Chinese shipbuilding,” concluded the senators . The senators urge