The U.S. government's proposal to impose steep fines of up to $1.5 million on Chinese-manufactured ships has drawn sharp criticism from regional experts, who warn the move threatens global maritime efficiency and may harm U.S. economic interests. John Pang, former Malaysian government official and senior fellow at the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific, described the policy as a ‘bizarre and gangster-like’ approach that could backfire on supply chains.
Pang emphasized that China's continued dominance in global shipbuilding—responsible for over 40% of the world’s commercial vessels—means retaliatory measures could compound existing inflation pressures and logistics bottlenecks. ‘Singling out Chinese ships disrupts the interconnected nature of maritime trade,’ he noted, adding that American importers and exporters would likely bear the brunt of delays and cost spikes.
Analysts suggest the proposal risks straining U.S.-Asia trade relations at a time when stability is critical for post-pandemic recovery. Southeast Asian economies dependent on Chinese-manufactured vessels for regional transport have echoed concerns over collateral damage to smaller markets. Meanwhile, Beijing has yet to issue an official response.
