American lawmakers are using a trip to South Korea and Japan to explore how the United States can tap those allies’ shipbuilding expertise and capacity to help boost its own capabilities. The U.S. commercial shipbuilding accounted for 0.1% of global capacity in 2024, while China produced 53%, followed by South Korea and Japan, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Two Democratic senators, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Andy Kim of New Jersey, plan to meet top shipbuilders from the world’s second- and third-largest shipbuilding countries. Their trip comes as President Donald Trump demands a plan to revive U.S. shipyards and engage foreign partners.
