Sailing With The Trump Transition: Cargo, Cabotage And Maritime Infrastructure In 2017

JoeJ. Michael Cavanaugh is a Partner and Eric Lee is an Associate both in our Washington DC office.

Once he assumes office on Jan. 20, 2017, President-Elect Donald Trump will be responsible for managing a mix of cargo preference, ship documentation, cabotage, and related rules and laws dating back to the First Congress, including the laws popularly known as the U.S. "Jones Act." During the intervening 227 years, observers have seen the total U.S.-owned or registered fleet grow and contract, relatively speaking, to its current international position, with no U.S.-owned container carrier making the 2015 global top 20. Notably, the largest U.S. container carrier currently ranks No. 33 – some 13 spots behind Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL Group). The U.S. Maritime Administration's aggregate registry report for 2016 places the U.S. 23rd by deadweight tonnage (DWT) among major registries (including 1,105,585 DWT from the U.S. Ready Reserve Fleet).