U.S. Proposes $8 Million Fellowship to Boost Shipbuilding Skills Against China
The U.S. Labor Department is launching an $8 million fellowship program in collaboration with South Korea and Japan to train American workers in shipbuilding, as part of its effort to counter China’s growing dominance in the industry. This initiative, announced by the Labor Department, is a direct result of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding sector. The initiative seeks to provide advanced skills training for American workers, focusing on critical roles such as shipwrights, boilermakers, and welders, through partnerships with international training centers and shipyards.
According to the Labor Department, the fellowship program will run for four years and will team up U.S. training centers, registered apprenticeship programs, and educational institutions like community colleges with foreign counterparts. The program’s goal is to create a specialized, internationally recognized trade curriculum that will enhance shipbuilding skills within the United States. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the importance of this initiative in a statement, stating that it aligns with the Department of Labor’s mission to develop effective apprenticeship programs and restore American maritime dominance.
Despite the U.S. being far behind China, South Korea, and Japan in shipbuilding, the initiative represents a significant step toward countering this gap. The Center for Strategic and International Studies highlights that China is responsible for over 50% of global shipbuilding, while South Korea accounts for nearly 29%, and Japan for 13%. In contrast, the U.S. contributes only 0.1%, highlighting the urgent need for revitalization. Trump’s administration has taken decisive action, including an executive order aimed at reinvigorating the shipbuilding industry, with measures such as assessing how the government can provide financial support and exploring new funding mechanisms like the Maritime Security Trust Fund.
The fellowship program is part of a broader strategy to counter China’s influence in the maritime sector. The administration has called for a maritime action plan and directed the U.S. trade representative to compile recommendations to address China’s