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President Trump signed an executive order on April 9 launching a Maritime Action Plan aimed at revitalizing and rebuilding the U.S. maritime sector (Reuters, subscription). The order stops short of imposing new port fees on Chinese-built vessels—for now.

Why it matters: Though the executive order does not impose fees, pending further actions under the U.S. Trade Representative Section 301 investigation into China’s shipbuilding industry, it does recommend USTR consider imposing tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes and other cargo-handling equipment.

Between the lines: Pursuant to an ongoing Section 301 investigation, USTR received public comments in March on its proposed actions to remedy China’s unfair shipbuilding practices. USTR proposed charging Chinese shipping companies—and any company using Chinese-built ships—new fees of $1 million to $1.5 million each time one of their ships enters a U.S. port.

• The Executive Order, “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” also imposes the Harbor Maintenance Fee at land ports of entry and proposes a new 10% service fee for additional costs to Customs and Border Protection at land ports of entry.

What’s next? USTR is still weighing its final Section 301 remedies. The NAM is monitoring the investigation and potential outcomes closely—including the imposition of high-dollar port fees and new tariffs on shipping equipment.

NAM says: The NAM continues to engage with federal agencies to ensure any measures support manufacturing competitiveness while protecting supply chain efficiency.

• Instead of imposing fees on Chinese-built ships, the NAM told USTR in March that it “should seek to directly remedy the non-market practices and subsidization of Chinese state enterprises that undermine global competition in the shipbuilding industry.”