The Honorable Jamieson Greer
Ambassador
United States Trade Representative
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20508
RE: Opposition to Proposed Action in Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance (USTR–2025–0003)
Dear Ambassador Greer:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) proposed actions in response to the findings of the Section 301 investigation of China targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.
While the Administration is correct to scrutinize China’s growing maritime influence and its implications on global competitiveness, the proposed response outlined by USTR is unlikely to deter China’s broader maritime ambitions. Instead, USTR’s proposal to add as much as $3.5 million in fees for every port call by an ocean carrier and require a significant increase in the use of U.S.-built and U.S.-flaȊed ships would raise U.S. consumer prices and may rekindle supply chain challenges like those experienced during the pandemic, while undermining the global competitiveness of critical U.S. exports, including energy and agriculture. Further, because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1998 that imposing the Harbor Maintenance Fee to exports is unconstitutional, we expect the same logic would apply to USTR’s proposed export fee.
We urge the Administration to consider other more effective measures to address the challenges posed by China’s proliferating maritime influence.
Read the full comments here.
