Window on Washington: Ruh-Ro Ro-Ros

This article originally appeared in the Third Quarter 2025 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin. Reprinted with permission. Any opinions in this article are not those of Winston & Strawn or its clients. The opinions in this article are the author’s opinions only.

Long-suffering readers of Window on Washington will recall last issue covered President Trump’s aggressive rollout of plans via executive order to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and operating industry. 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. Many of the intended tariffs have been scaled back in both the SHIPS for America Act and in the USTR action, causing some industry observers to raise concerns about the financial viability of the proposals.