Window On Washington: Ruh-Ro Ro-Ros

Long-suffering readers of Window on Washington will recall last issue covered President Trump's aggressive roll-out of plans via executive order to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and operating industry.¹ The plans included funding a civilian "Strategic Commercial Fleet" and rejuvenating with a sweeping tariffs regime, including tariffs on Chinese-owned and operated vessels through the tariff actions commenced in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative ("USTR") during the Biden Administration.² Many of the intended tariffs have been scaled back in both the SHIPS for America Act³ and in the USTR action, causing some industry observers to raise concerns about the financial viability of the proposals.