China Shipowners' Association Protests Against US Trade Investigation Measures

On April 18th, a solemn statement was released on a relevant official account. On April 17th, 2025, local time, the US Trade Representative's Office announced Section 301 investigation measures against China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. These measures are highly discriminatory, seriously violating international trade rules and the China-US shipping agreement. They are typical practices of unilateralism and protectionism.

The China Shipowners' Association, on behalf of all Chinese shipowners, strongly opposes and solemnly protests against these measures. It firmly rejects the US accusations based on false facts and biases and condemns the US for abusing trade protectionist tools to disrupt the global shipping market order.

The booming development of China's international shipping is a result of global trade growth and the relationship between supply and demand. It benefits from adhering to market principles and international rules, as well as from insisting on fair competition and expanding opening-up. China has never adopted discriminatory policies. Chinese shipowners strictly abide by international trade rules, providing strong support for the efficient operation of the global supply chain and stable and reliable logistics services for the import and export trade of countries including the United States.

The US claims that the competitiveness of Chinese enterprises comes from so-called "unfair policies", ignoring the development history and objective facts of the global shipbuilding and shipping industries since World War II and completely overlooking the efforts made by China's shipping industry in technological innovation, cost control, and service quality.

The US unilateral actions seriously damage international trade rules, disrupt the global shipping market order, and drive up logistics costs. Ultimately, they harm the interests of American shippers, US import and export enterprises, and global consumers. Abusing trade protectionist tools will eventually backfire. Its short-sighted policies cannot solve its own industrial problems and will also harm the US economy and the interests of consumers!

The China Shipowners' Association strongly demands that the US stop its investigations and actions based on political biases, revoke all discriminatory measures, and earnestly respect international trade rules and market laws to avoid further serious damage to the normal development of the global maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. The China Shipowners' Association will continue to represent all Chinese shipowners, maintain an open and cooperative attitude, actively communicate with all relevant parties including the US, adapt to the development trend of the international shipping industry, and jointly safeguard the sustainable and prosperous development of the global economy and trade.