US unions ask Biden administration to probe Chinese shipbuilding
“We have seen the PRC [China] create dependencies and vulnerabilities in multiple sectors, like steel, aluminium, solar, batteries, and critical minerals, harming American workers and businesses and creating real risks for our supply chains,” the USTR office said in a statement, adding it will review the petition.
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“China’s drive to dominate the global shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sector is built on non-market policies that are far more aggressive and interventionist than any other country,” the unions said in their petition.
The five petitioner unions included the United Steelworkers.
The petition filed on Tuesday, which was first reported by the Financial Times, urged the administration of US President Joe Biden to impose port fees on Chinese-built vessels and with it create a fund to revitalise US shipbuilding.
The petition also raised concerns about Chinese software platform Logink that provides data on global supply chain logistics. The petition alleged the Chinese government-supported platform raised national security concerns.
Biden kept Trump tariffs on China because they help create US jobs: trade envoy
The administration of former US president Donald Trump imposed tariffs in 2018 and 2019 on thousands of imports from China valued at some US$370 billion at the time.
Biden retained the tariffs and added new restrictions, citing security concerns.
The USTR office said it will review the allegations from the unions and decide within 45 days whether they merit a probe.