Labor Caucus Calls for Strong Action to Protect American Shipbuilding
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressional Labor Caucus Vice-Chairs Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), John Garamendi (CA-08), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Caucus members Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Co-Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) led more than 60 Members of Congress in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Greer urging USTR to take strong action in its ongoing Section 301 investigation into China’s trade practices in the commercial shipbuilding sector.
“We write in support of swift and decisive action to address unfair and predatory practices by the Chinese government in the shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors that jeopardize the United States’ national security and defense industrial base,” wrote the lawmakers. “China’s discriminatory practices and cheating have forced U.S. shipbuilders, their suppliers, and workers to compete on an uneven playing field and have contributed to the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.”
In 2024, USTR accepted a petition filed by a coalition of five labor unions and initiated a Section 301 investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China relating to competition in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. In January 2025, USTR concluded that China’s targeting for dominance in the shipbuilding sector is unreasonable, and the agency is currently soliciting comments on its proposals to address China’s actions.
“We strongly urge USTR to actively pursue strong actions in a swift and decisive manner. Action should also be durable to provide shipbuilders, shipyards, suppliers, and workers the confidence to invest in capacity, skills, and the future. Additionally, we urge you to work with Congress in a bipartisan manner where statutory support is needed to strengthen the remedies and strategic investments that will help restore the United States’ shipbuilding capacity and workforce. A bold response from the United States to China’s unfair dominance in the shipbuilding sector will send a clear signal: the United States will not stand for discriminatory trade and economic practices, particularly when they harm U.S. workers, businesses, and our national and economic security,” concluded the lawmakers.
Labor Caucus members have consistently supported strong action to support American shipbuilding. In April 2024, Rep. Courtney led a letter with 37 other Members of Congress urging USTR to accept the initial petition urging USTR to investigate China’s shipbuilding practices. In May 2024, Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Dingell and Norcross and Caucus Member Rep. Courtney testified in support of American workers and the domestic shipbuilding industry as part of USTR’s investigation. In October 2024, the Caucus Co-Chairs and Caucus members Reps. DeLauro, Golden, Courtney, and Hoyle led 70 Members of Congress in a letter supporting the investigation and urging USTR to implement strong remedies to protect American workers from China’s unfair practices in the shipbuilding industry.
A full copy of the letter can be found here.