Groups representing iconic American companies are top foes of bipartisan legislation to revive domestic shipbuilding to improve national security.
Import-dependent retailers object to how the SHIPS for America Act (S. 1541) would increase their costs by slapping higher fees on foreign shippers from countries such as China. Supporters say the moves are necessary to increase US-flagged carriers so the military has a larger cargo fleet in a prolonged conflict.
“We do not believe the port fees in the bill are appropriate as a funding mechanism and will only be passed along to the cargo owners,” Jonathan Gold, vice ...