Rep. Courtney Applauds Biden Administration’s Investigation to Protect U.S. Shipbuilding
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus and Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the United States Trade Representative announced it would initiate an investigation into the People’s Republic of China’s unfair shipbuilding practices which has led to a loss in U.S. domestic shipbuilding capacity. On Monday, Congressman Courtney led 37 other lawmakers in urging the Biden Administration to initiate an investigation following a United Steelworkers-led petition.
“I applaud President Biden and USTR Katherine Tai for initiating an investigation into China’s unfair shipbuilding practices following calls from my colleagues and me. As the Co-Chair of Shipbuilding Caucus and the Ranking Member on the Seapower Subcommittee, I’ve witnessed how China’s tactics have dramatically expanded global dependency on their shipbuilding industry at the expense of U.S. workers, supply chains, and national security. Without intervention, China’s policies will continue to choke out competitors and erode the United States’ ongoing efforts to expand its industrial base and manufacturing capacity. I look forward to continuing dialogue with the Biden Administration and discuss policy recommendations to ensure that American workers and industry are resilient to China’s anti-competitive practices.”