A new national poll reveals strong bipartisan support for President Donald Trump's push for a U.S. shipbuilding revival, as concerns mount over China’s growing maritime dominance and its impact on national security. With 72% of Americans backing efforts to rebuild domestic shipyards and reduce reliance on foreign-built vessels, the momentum for revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry is gaining ground.
The survey of 2,204 adults showed that only 11% believe the U.S. can continue depending on China and other foreign countries for its commercial and military shipbuilding needs. The findings come ahead of a crucial hearing by the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, where discussions will focus on proposed measures like charging up to $1.5 million in fees for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports.
The Trump administration’s proposed solutions, which include requiring at least 1% of U.S. exports to be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels, were introduced following a Biden administration investigation into China's unfair dominance of the maritime sector. The probe, which began in April 2024, aims to address the decline of U.S. shipbuilding since the 1970s.
Public support for U.S. shipbuilding revival is robust, with 68% of Americans viewing the ability to build ships for commercial and military purposes as a national security issue. Additionally, 71% favor government investment in U.S. shipbuilding, and 70% believe Chinese-built floating docks endanger U.S. military security.
A significant portion of respondents (49%) supports imposing docking fees on Chinese vessels, and 56% back a requirement for U.S. exports to be transported on U.S.-built ships with U.S. crews. Trump plans to take executive action to enforce these measures and offer tax credits to stimulate domestic shipbuilding.
With strong public backing and increasing political support, the push to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding is gaining momentum amid concerns over China’s growing influence in global maritime trade.
