How China Came to Dominate Global Shipbuilding

Donald Trump says he wants to use big fees on Chinese ships to reboot US shipbuilding. Experts warn the move likely won’t work, and instead would raise prices for consumers and damage the US economy.

China will produce more than half of the world’s new ships this year, compared to 5% in 2000, while the US barely makes any at all. So how did China become so dominant, and could the US ever catch up? Or is the proposal intended as just another negotiating tactic in Trump’s global trade war?

(Corrects number of large oceangoing ships ordered by the US and China between 2020 and 2022.)

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[hyrenaj]

What's incredible is that East Asia basically builds all (95%) of the world's ships

[sirkeg]

"A single Chinese shipyard produces more ships than every American shipyard combined." Correction, a single Chinese shipyard in one year produced more tonnage of ships than the entire US produced from 1945-2025.

[Tony-cshq]

Cry about subsidies, is like crying about sunrise. Every country needs them for their own benefit. Period

[neilknightley]

Chinese succeed in anything.
Americans: how dare u!?

[caprisuns]

China China China again. Always their fault.

[AceChina]

"china dominating" videos seem to be a common theme these days.

[김모치-zh]

if there is no trade then you don't need ships. IQ 210 move by mr trump.

[JacobBrand-gn]

China makes better cars
Usa:it's war threat how dare you
China makes better phones
Usa:that's war threat how dare you
China makes better space station
Usa:war threat how dare you
China makes better economy
Usa :how dare you that's war threat
China invest rather then invading countries
Usa:how dare you that's war threat
China makes better railway system and better ships and more
Usa:how dare you that's war threat

[maggiemomo]

American kids gotta stop trying to become youtubers and become ship builders!

[twisterwep]

they blame China for being hardworking

[diasporist]

"What the US does have are two strong allies - South Korea and Japan", yeah, about that..

(Threatening to withdraw military support and now levying high tariffs on them, so much so that both of the "strong allies" are now looking for a response to US together with CHINA. Mr. Can't stop winning... )

[regophil]

It may be too late to catch up with China, and the US labor costs are too high.

[vincentli]

They dominate more than just ship building

[Zerpentsa]

Vance: These "Chinese peasants" build ship? No way!!!😂

[Shytot-]

How can the USA compete with China when the USA is too expensive and the workers think the world owes them a living for being so American and awesome? What is surprising is how the USA has managed to last as long as it has.

[zaneshark]

The US is a nation of religious extremists and is focused on antiquated dogma. China is a secular nation and is focused on science and economic development.
The US has committed itself to a policy of social darwinism, privatization, and extreme individualism, etc., whereas China maintains a policy of collectivist cooperation and win-win mutual benefit.

[vandevonshuaibaliyakubu]

Every China success is America's security treat😂

[Vermilion]

China builds high quality ships at affordable prices. Making goods cheap to transport. So the people in the west can buy things cheaper and have a better standard of living. Why the hate?

[aidenpierce]

Here's a quick summary of the video:
Chinese-built ship: $55 million
US-built ship: $330 million
Now ask yourself — which one do you think shipping companies will choose?

[ballerblocks]

Instead of focusing on more war and values. Maybe try doing the right thing like the chinese have been called improving yourself