트럼프 행정부의 중국 해운, 조선, 로지스틱스 분야에 대한  견제 정책이 현실화되고 있어 주목된다. 이같은 조치가 구체화되면서 해운업계는 오션얼라이언스에 소속돼 있는 중국 국영선사 COSCO의 파급영향에 촉각을 세우고 있다. COSCO는 작년 미국 수입 컨화물 수송 1위 선사이기도 하다. 미주항로의 향배(向背)도 관심사다.

미국 무역대표부(USTR)는 21일(현지시간) 발표한 공고문에서 중국 선사, 중국산 선박과 관련한 국제 해상 운송 서비스에 수수료를 부과하는 방안을 추진한다고 밝혀 관련업계가 촉각을 세우고 있다.
추진 방안에 따르면 중국 선사의 특정 선박이 미국 항만에 입항 때마다 최대 100만 달러 또는 선박 용적물 톤(t)당 최대 1000달러의 수수료가 부과될 예정이다.

또 중국산 선박을 포함해 복수의 선박을 운영하는 선사는 미국 항만에 입항하는 중국산 선박에 따라 최대 150만 달러의 수수료를 부과하는 방안도 검토 중이라고 전했다.

아울러 미 무역대표부는 미국산 제품의 미국 선박 이용을 촉진하기 위한 규제안도 마련했다. 해당 정책의 시행 직후부터 해상 운송되는 미국 제품의 최소 1%는 미국 선사의 미국 선적 선박을 통해  운송, 수출돼야 한다.

정책 시행 2년 후에는 3%, 3년 후에는 5%, 7년 후엔 15%로 최소 기준비율이  높아지고, 궁극적으론 미국 제품들이 미국 선적의 미국산 선박을 통해 수출돼야 한다고 규정하고 있다.

이번 조치는 전임 바이든 행정부가 중국의 산업 관행을 조사한 결과를 반영한 것이다. 미국 무역대표부는 의견 수렴 절차를 개시,  3월 24일 공청회를 거쳐 최종 확정할 예정이다.

[미국 무역대표부 보도자료]

USTR Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Actions in Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance

February 21, 2025

Washington, DC – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is inviting comments from the public on proposed Section 301 actions aimed to obtain the elimination of China’s acts, policies, and practices targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. In this Section 301 investigation, USTR has found China’s acts, policies, and practices to be unreasonable and to burden or restrict US commerce.

To obtain the elimination of China’s acts, policies, and practices, and in light of China’s market power over global supply, pricing, and access in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, USTR proposes to impose certain fees and restrictions on international maritime transport services related to Chinese ship operators and Chinese-built ships, as well as to promote the transport of U.S. goods on U.S. vessels.  USTR invites comments from any interested person on the proposed actions.

USTR will hold a public hearing about the proposed actions on March 24, 2025, in the main hearing room at the International Trade Commission.

The deadline to submit a request to appear at the hearing is March 10, 2025.

The deadline for submission of comments is March 24, 2025.

To view the Federal Register Notice, click here. 

Comments in response to this notice can be submitted or accessed here.

Background

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce.  The Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act provide a domestic procedure through which interested persons may petition the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate a foreign government act, policy, or practice and take appropriate action.  Section 301(b) may be used to respond to unreasonable or discriminatory foreign government acts, policies, and practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

On March 12, 2024, five national labor unions filed a petition requesting an investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.  The five petitioner unions are:

the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO CLC (“USW”);

the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”);

the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO/CLC (“IBB”);

the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”); and

the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO (“MTD”).

The petition was filed pursuant to Section 302(a)(1) of the Trade Act, requesting action pursuant to Section 301(b).

Pursuant to Section 302(a)(2) of the Trade Act, the U.S. Trade Representative reviewed the allegations in the petition and determined to initiate an investigation regarding the issues raised in the petition.  On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Trade Representative requested consultations with the government of China. 

In light of the information obtained during the investigation and taking into account public comments, as well as the advice of the interagency Section 301 Committee and advisory committees, the U.S. Trade Representative determined that China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance is actionable under Sections 301(b) and 304(a) of the Trade Act.  The U.S. Trade Representative found that China’s targeting for dominance is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.

Specifically, USTR found China’s targeting for dominance unreasonable because it displaces foreign firms, deprives market-oriented businesses and their workers of commercial opportunities, and lessens competition and creates dependencies on China, increasing risk and reducing supply chain resilience.  China’s targeting for dominance is also unreasonable because of Beijing’s extraordinary control over its economic actors and these sectors.

USTR found that China’s targeting for dominance burdens or restricts U.S. commerce by undercutting business opportunities for and investments in the U.S. maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors; restricting competition and choice; creating economic security risks from dependence and vulnerabilities in sectors critical to the functioning of the U.S. economy; and undermining supply chain resilience.

A copy of the petition and other public documents associated with this investigation are available here.  USTR’s public report on the investigation is available here, and the U.S. Trade Representative’s determination is available here.