U.S. Maritime Revitalization: What Retailers Should Know

By [ Sarah Gilmore ]
02/19/2026

For decades, the backbone of global supply chains has been a maritime system dominated by foreign shipyards, foreign flagged vessels, and sourcing that often runs through geopolitical chokepoints. But the Trump administration believes that will not be the case for long. The United States is preparing for a major step toward rebalancing.

The White House’s new strategy to “Restore America’s Maritime Dominance” signals the most ambitious effort in a generation to strengthen the nation’s maritime capabilities. It spans shipbuilding, port modernization, workforce development, and promises new funding mechanisms to support long term resilience across the supply chain. And while the plan is broad in scope, its implications for retailers are both practical and far reaching.

A Maritime System Ready for Modernization
The United States currently builds less than one percent of global commercial ships, while some foreign competitors, China chief among them, produce thousands, according to federal data cited in the plan. This imbalance has shaped not only global trade flows but also the reliability and flexibility of the supply chains American retailers rely on every day.

The new Maritime Action Plan proposes “hundreds of billions” in investment to expand U.S. shipyard capacity and increase the number of U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged vessels operating in commercial trade. The need for an investment that large also signals the scale of the challenge: Modernizing a sector that has, for decades, lagged behind the speed of global commerce and the pace of foreign industrial investment. For decades, the United States has faced a mix of challenges including limited public and private investment in shipyard modernization, higher domestic production costs, and a shrinking maritime workforce that slowed the sector’s ability to keep pace with global competitors.

New Tools: From Shipyards to Ports to Workforce
The plan includes several major components that could reshape the logistics ecosystem:

Strengthening the Maritime Industrial Base: Federal agencies will identify critical maritime components such as ship engines, propulsion systems, and electronics, that are currently sourced abroad. The goal is to build a more reliable domestic industrial base that supports both commercial and national security needs.
Modernizing the Workforce: The Maritime Action Plan also prioritizes training, including updates at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and greater support for state maritime academies. A modern fleet needs a modern workforce, and workforce shortages have been a longstanding barrier to growth.
Funding Infrastructure Through New Fees: Two notable funding mechanisms appear in the plan:
A Land Port Maintenance Tax, similar to the Harbor Maintenance Fee, designed to help maintain and improve the nation’s busiest land ports of entry.
A universal fee on foreign built commercial vessels, intended to help level cost disparities between domestic and international shipbuilding and support long term maritime investment.

These tools reflect an effort to create consistent, dedicated funding streams to support U.S. infrastructure, an issue that has challenged policymakers for years, but also foretell increased supply chain costs for U.S. businesses, and ultimately, consumers.

How Congress is Partnering: Senator Kelly’s SHIPS for America Act
The Maritime Action Plan also aligns closely with ongoing legislative efforts. In April 2025, Senator Mark Kelly (D Ariz.) and a bipartisan group of colleagues reintroduced the SHIPS for America Act — one of the most ambitious maritime proposals in recent years — which focuses on rebuilding U.S. shipbuilding capacity, expanding the U.S.-flag fleet, and establishing more consistent federal oversight and funding.

The scale of the challenge is stark. About 80 U.S.-flagged vessels operate in international commerce today, compared to over 5,500 Chinese flagged vessels. The SHIPS Act seeks to help close this gap and restore a more competitive U.S. maritime presence.

For retailers, this alignment between Congress and the administration signals that maritime revitalization is becoming a long term, sustained national priority, not a one off initiative.

What Retailers Should Be Watching

Infrastructure Improvements: Modernized ports, expanded shipyard capacity, and a strengthened industrial base may, over time, lead to a more predictable and resilient transportation network — reducing the risks of congestion, delays, or geopolitical disruptions. Efforts to modernize ports and implement advanced technology have frequently met resistance from some stakeholders, in addition to underlying technology and operational challenges. Retailers should expect that even well intended infrastructure upgrades may take years to deliver meaningful benefits and could introduce short term disruptions along the way.
Potential Fee or Cost Adjustments: The proposed Land Port Maintenance Tax and the universal fee on foreign built vessels are intended to generate consistent funding streams for infrastructure, but they also raise the likelihood of higher transportation and import related costs for retailers. Depending on how these fees are structured and implemented, some businesses may see increased operating costs without immediate improvements to service or reliability. Retailers should closely monitor rulemaking and ensure policymakers understand the cost impacts throughout the supply chain.
Supply Chain Reliability: The long term goal of the plan is to improve reliability, reduce exposure to global chokepoints, and increase domestic control over critical logistics infrastructure. A stronger U.S. maritime sector could ultimately provide greater stability during international disruptions.
Opportunity for Engagement: Because many elements of the plan will require regulatory development, retailers will have opportunities to engage with agencies as implementation moves forward. Understanding how these changes may affect operations, import strategies, and logistics planning will be essential.

The Bottom Line
The maritime sector rarely finds itself at the center of national policy discussions, but this moment is different. The White House plan and its alignment with the bipartisan SHIPS Act reflects a growing belief among policymakers and industry stakeholders that a resilient maritime foundation is essential for economic competitiveness and national supply chain security.

However, turning a domestic maritime industry that has atrophied over decades into a modern, competitive system will require sustained investment, long term coordination, and difficult policy choices. Progress is possible, but it will not be fast, frictionless, or guaranteed.

For retailers, the changes won’t happen overnight and not all of them will be positive in the near term.

New fees, infrastructure overhauls, and regulatory changes may increase costs or introduce transitional challenges even as policymakers aim for long term benefits. As these initiatives develop, RILA will continue monitoring federal actions, engaging directly with policymakers, and keeping members informed so our industry can anticipate impacts, identify risks, and have a voice in shaping the path forward.