February 21, 2025
Washington, DC – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is inviting comments from the public on proposed Section 301 actions aimed to obtain the elimination of China’s acts, policies, and practices targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. In this Section 301 investigation, USTR has found China’s acts, policies, and practices to be unreasonable and to burden or restrict US commerce.
To obtain the elimination of China’s acts, policies, and practices, and in light of China’s market power over global supply, pricing, and access in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, USTR proposes to impose certain fees and restrictions on international maritime transport services related to Chinese ship operators and Chinese-built ships, as well as to promote the transport of U.S. goods on U.S. vessels. USTR invites comments from any interested person on the proposed actions.
USTR will hold a public hearing about the proposed actions on March 24, 2025, in the main hearing room at the International Trade Commission.
The deadline to submit a request to appear at the hearing is March 10, 2025.
The deadline for submission of comments is March 24, 2025.
To view the Federal Register Notice, click here.
Comments in response to this notice can be submitted or accessed here.
Background
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce. The Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act provide a domestic procedure through which interested persons may petition the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate a foreign government act, policy, or practice and take appropriate action. Section 301(b) may be used to respond to unreasonable or discriminatory foreign government acts, policies, and practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
On March 12, 2024, five national labor unions filed a petition requesting an investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The five petitioner unions are:
the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO CLC (“USW”);
the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”);
the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO/CLC (“IBB”);
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”); and
the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO (“MTD”). Read More→
