The IAM Union thanks U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin for her continued leadership and strong support for revitalizing America’s domestic shipbuilding industry and protecting union jobs across the maritime sector.
Baldwin recently joined U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in calling on President Trump to stand firm against China’s unfair trade practices and prioritize American shipbuilding during an upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In a bipartisan letter to the President, the senators warned that China’s decades-long campaign of subsidizing, unfair trade tactics, and anti-competitive practices has severely damaged the U.S. shipbuilding industry, threatening American jobs and national security.
“The United States is at an inflection point and cannot cede additional ground to the People’s Republic of China,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to prioritize America’s maritime industry and its workers during this summit.”
The IAM Union, which represents thousands of members in the ship building and repair industry and the defense industry across the United States, praised Baldwin for continuing to champion policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing, rebuild America’s shipyards, and create good-paying union jobs.
“Senator Baldwin understands that a strong domestic shipbuilding industry is critical not only for our national security, but for protecting middle-class union jobs and rebuilding America’s industrial base,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Her leadership in standing up to China’s unfair trade practices and fighting for investments in American shipyards is exactly the kind of action working families need.”
The senators highlighted how China now controls more than 60% of global commercial shipbuilding orders, while U.S. production has fallen behind numerous other nations after years of unfair competition and government-backed subsidies from Beijing.
The letter also praised recent efforts to impose fees on Chinese-built ships docking at U.S. ports and called for continued support of the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, legislation designed to revitalize the nation’s commercial and military shipbuilding capacity.
Baldwin has been a leading advocate for restoring America’s maritime strength, including efforts to strengthen Great Lakes shipbuilding and crack down on unfair Chinese trade practices affecting maritime industries.
The IAM Union continues to support policies that invest in American workers, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and ensure the United States maintains a world-class shipbuilding industry powered by highly-skilled union labor.
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