China will build three of every four large cargo ships ordered this year. The United States will build fewer than one in 100. The Strategic Commercial Fleet program, included in the SHIPS for America Act, could help close this gap, triple the American fleet, and strengthen national security while reducing costs for taxpayers. Michael Roberts explains how Section 401 could help rebuild the US maritime industrial base.
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US sailors conduct routine maintenance on a jet blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 9, 2025. (US Navy)