St. Lawrence Shipowners Urge the Canadian Government to Act Against New Maritime Trade Barriers Imposed by the Trump Administration

Québec, April 10, 2025 – The St. Lawrence Shipowners’ Association (SLS) is expressing serious concern following the executive order signed yesterday by President Donald J. Trump, titled “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.” The order directly threatens the viability of regional maritime trade between Canada and the United States by potentially imposing punitive fees on vessels essential to North American supply chains.

“This is worse than tariffs: these new measures could increase shipping costs by 300 to 1,000%, making regional trade uncompetitive and threatening thousands of jobs on both sides of the border,” said Guillaum Dubreuil, Chair of SLS’s Board of Directors. “It’s a direct attack that will lead to job losses and higher prices for goods on both sides of the border.”

The new port charges being considered are intended to target China’s shipbuilding industry by applying tariffs to any vessel built in China that docks at a U.S. port. However, nearly 45% of Canada’s merchant fleet was built in China at a time when it was the only economically viable option. These vessels are now essential for transporting bulk cargo, construction materials, road salt, grain, and industrial goods throughout the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic coast.

By indiscriminately targeting all vessels built in China — even those operating exclusively within a few hundred nautical miles as part of vital regional trade — the order risks penalizing allies rather than competitors.

SLS is issuing an urgent call to action to protect regional trade and is asking the Government of Canada to act immediately and firmly to demand a formal exemption for all vessels operating within a 2,000-nautical-mile radius, as proposed in the official submissions made by SLS to the USTR.

“At the height of the shipping season, this measure could delay the delivery of essential materials and increase costs for consumers and industries. As we saw during the St. Lawrence Seaway strike, it’s the public who will feel the most immediate consequences,” said Saul Polo, Executive Director of SLS.

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About the St. Lawrence Shipowners’ Association
The St. Lawrence Shipowners’ Association represents more than 130 Canadian vessels operating on the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and the Arctic. Together, they facilitate more than 120 billion USD in annual trade and support thousands of jobs in both countries. Regional maritime transport is a quiet but crucial pillar of the North American economy.

Media Contact:
Saul Polo
Executive Director
St. Lawrence Shipowners’ Association
saul.polo@asl-sls.org
418 648-4378
www.armateurs-du-st-laurent.org