In the past few hours in the USA the drawing of bipartisan "SHIPS for America Act" which the aim of boosting US activities in the shipbuilding and maritime trade sectors, while strengthening national security, in particular - as explicitly claimed by the promoters of the initiative - responding to the challenge posed by China on the oceans. The "Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act", which was presented for the Democrats by Senator Mark Kelly (Arizona) and by Congressman John Garamendi (California) and for the Republicans by Senator Todd Young (Indiana) and Congressman Trent Kelly, Mississippi, plans several measures to strengthen the entire U.S. shipping industry, starting with the establishment of a Marine Security Advisor within the government administration and, chairing the Maritime Security Board, the new body envisaged by the bill, would have the task of make decisions on behalf of the government on the implementation of a national maritime strategy developed by the Maritime Security Board. In addition, the draft law provides for the creation of of a Maritime Security Trust Fund, an instrument that would have the function of reinvesting duties and taxes paid by industry maritime security programmes and construction of infrastructures to support maritime trade.

The bill, supported by leading organizations and American shipping companies, also provides for the creation of a strategic commercial naval fleet consisting of a minimum of ten ships two years after the implementation of the law to arrive to a maximum of 250 ships as well as the increase in competitiveness of the US flag ships used in international trade through the establishment of a Rulemaking Committee on Commercial Maritime Regulations and Standards would have the task of reducing bureaucratic obligations and require that from 2029 onwards a share of goods imported for by sea from China to be transported by flag ships American, manned and built in the USA, a share that would be equal to 1% of the total in five years from the implementation of this section of the standard to the 10% 14 years after the introduction of the measure.

The bill also focuses on the strengthening of the American shipbuilding, and in relation to the production of merchant and military ships, establishing a tax credit of the 25% for investments in shipyards and establishing a Financial Incentive Program for Construction and Repair in support of innovative approaches in this sector. The promotion of innovative approaches is also envisaged in the field of naval design and production and energy systems for shipping through the establishment of a U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation.

With regard to employment in the maritime sector, the proposal The SHIPS for America Act provides for the implementation of recruitment and training of staff accompanied by large investment in the workforce.

Highlighting that currently there are only 80 ships employed in the international trafficking that flies the US flag against the 5,500 from China, Senator Mark Kelly noted that if the The United States has always been a maritime nation, "however - he noted - the truth is that we have lost ground compared to China which now dominates maritime transport international and can build merchant and military ships much faster than us. The SHIPS for America Act - has underlined the senator - is the answer to this challenge. Supporting shipbuilding, maritime transport and development of the workforce, we will strengthen supply chains, we will reduce our dependence on foreign ships, we will put the Americans working in high-paying jobs, and we will support the shipbuilding needs of the Navy and the Guard Coastal".