The naval sector has emerged as a geopolitical battleground, with both the United States and China prioritizing maritime power through protectionist policies. The U.S. revival under Trump, including massive port fees and incentives for domestic shipbuilding, aims to re-shore industrial capacity and reduce dependence on foreign production. Simultaneously, China's strategic dominance in maritime industries is seen as a threat to global competition and supply chain resilience. Europe, and particularly France, risks industrial decline and strategic vulnerability by adhering to outdated multilateral trade norms. Without a proactive response, it may be sidelined in the evolving global maritime order.
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To counterbalance U.S. and Chinese strategies, the position paper outlines six pillars for a robust European and French naval industrial policy:
1. Supply Chain Competitiveness & Resilience
- Invest in modern shipyards and manufacturing capabilities.
- Reinvest ETS revenues into decarbonisation and innovation.
- Launch an IPCEI for maritime tech.
2. Maritime Defence & Security
- Recognize ships as dual-use infrastructure.
- Protect vital subsea and maritime installations.
3. Clean Ships & Technologies
- Promote fleet modernization through green criteria.
- Incentivize low-emission vessel development and procurement.
4. Innovation & Digitalization
- Foster R&D and deploy maritime drones for civil/military use.
- Digitize construction sites and shipbuilding processes.
5. Skills & Workforce
- Establish a pan-European maritime training network.
- Encourage upskilling and cross-border qualification recognition.
6. Market Access & Fair Competition
- Set up a Maritime Economic Security Office and a Trade Task Force.
- Impose safeguards against unfair trade practices.
The U.S. maritime industrial revival is a calculated and strategic pivot away from multilateralism. If Europe does not respond with equal resolve, it risks industrial erosion, diminished strategic autonomy, and economic vulnerability.
The call is clear: Europe must adopt a sovereign, coordinated, and forward-looking maritime industrial policy—with immediate actions to protect its interests, technology base, and supply chains in the face of an increasingly protectionist global environment.