Global Strategy: In Deepest Ship

Policy proposals from the USTR on port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels have shocked the global maritime industry. The implications are markedly higher costs to import and export from the US, disruption to trade routes, and perhaps the bifurcation of fleets into China and non-China entities – as well as a possible surge in US shipbuilding. While this makes it seem unlikely to happen to those favouring free markets, such disruption is in keeping with President Trump’s policy agenda of “America First” - and US national security concerns. Indeed, the US has made this ‘turn to the sea’ three times in its past on that basis. This strategy today has huge market implications; and it's failure has geopolitical ones.