US snubs key shipbuilding summit as global maritime rift deepens

Washington’s attempts to counter China’s shipyards have sent shock waves across the global industry

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The United States is pushing to rebuild its maritime sector and counter China’s dominance of global shipbuilding. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00am, 10 Apr 2025

American shipyards will again be absent from a key annual summit for the global shipbuilding industry, in the latest sign that the United States is charting a lonely course as it strives to revive its maritime sector.

Washington has sent shock waves across the industry in recent months with its aggressive policies targeting China’s dominant shipyards, which include plans to charge steep fees every time a Chinese-linked ship enters an American port.

The US claims the policy is necessary to counter China’s unfair trading practices and allow American shipbuilders to compete, but the move has sparked intense backlash and market discussions about joint countermeasures.

Chinese shipbuilding industry representatives told a visiting Japanese delegation in Beijing last week that “globally concerning issues” should be discussed at the coming JECK Top Executive Meeting, a key annual industry summit.

The JECK meeting – which brings together shipbuilding executives from Japan, Europe, China and South Korea – was previously known as the JECKU summit, as it was customary for the United States to also attend.

But America has failed to send representatives to the gathering since 2023, and will also be absent from October’s summit in Japan. The reason behind the US withdrawal from the event has not been disclosed.