Trump Unveils 'Historic' Shipbuilding Cooperation with South Korea, Japan

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The Trump administration has released an action plan to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, pledging to continue 'historic' cooperation with South Korea and Japan. The plan proposes a 'Bridge Strategy' where the first ships in a contract are built in a foreign shipyard, while investments are made to onshore construction in the U.S. over time. The administration has secured at least $150 billion in dedicated investment for America's shipbuilding industry.

Why it matters

The plan reflects the U.S.'s efforts to shore up its domestic shipbuilding capacity amid intensifying strategic competition with China, which has over 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the United States. Strengthening cooperation with key allies like South Korea and Japan is seen as crucial to revitalizing the U.S. maritime industrial base.

The details

The 'America's Maritime Action Plan' was developed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought, and other Cabinet members. It proposes a 'Bridge Strategy' where the first ships in a contract are built in a foreign shipyard, while concurrent investments are made to onshore construction in the U.S. over time. This reflects the reality of the U.S.'s poor domestic shipbuilding capacity as it seeks to secure more vessels quickly.

• In April 2026, President Trump signed an executive order titled 'Restoring America's Maritime Dominance' that called for the development of this action plan.
• The plan was released on February 14, 2026.

What’s next

The plan calls for continued diplomatic engagement and coalition building with allies and partners to align trade policies and encourage direct investment in the U.S. maritime industrial base.