Foreign Built Ships Facing New Fees? How the US Maritime Plan Could Reshape Trade

Today we look at the Trump administration’s newly announced America’s Maritime Action Plan and its proposal to impose a weight based fee on all foreign built vessels calling at US ports.

While framed as an initiative to revive domestic shipbuilding the proposal could fundamentally reshape the cost structure of trade into the United States, making it highly relevant for shippers, exporters and global supply chain planners.

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A Weight Based Infrastructure and Security Fee

At the center of the plan is a universal infrastructure and security fee calculated on the weight of cargo carried by foreign built commercial vessels entering US ports.

Under a one cent per kilogram scenario the measure could generate roughly 66 billion dollars over ten years, while a more aggressive twenty five cent scenario could raise revenue on a dramatically larger scale.

This structure effectively channels payments from foreign built ships into subsidies for domestic shipbuilding, representing a clear protectionist industrial policy.

Why Now? Decline and Security Concerns

The United States currently has only eight shipyards capable of constructing large vessels above four hundred feet in length, reflecting decades of decline in commercial shipbuilding capacity.

After losing ground to Asian competitors on cost and scale the administration now views this gap as a strategic vulnerability, particularly in scenarios involving military logistics and national emergencies.

The proposed plan seeks to reverse that trajectory even if doing so implies higher transportation costs in the short term.

Implications for Shipping Costs and Inflation

If implemented carriers would almost certainly pass the additional burden to shippers through surcharges, which in turn would affect import pricing structures.

• Construction materials
• Industrial raw materials
• Agricultural commodities
• Other heavy low value cargoes

These categories are especially sensitive to weight based fees, meaning even a few cents per kilogram could accumulate into significant total cost increases.

Political and International Uncertainty

The proposal still requires congressional approval and is likely to face strong lobbying from retailers and manufacturers concerned about cost escalation.

At the international level the measure may be perceived as a de facto tariff barrier, raising questions about WTO compatibility and possible retaliatory measures.

Even if modified during the legislative process the broader signal is clear: exporters serving the US market should prepare for the possibility of structurally higher logistics costs and adjust long term procurement strategies accordingly.