International Trade Administration Hosts Japanese Shipbuilding Delegation to Advance Investment in the U.S. Maritime Industrial Base

WASHINGTON, D.C. – From April 26 to May 2, the International Trade Administration (ITA) led a Japanese shipbuilding delegation to Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi as part of ongoing collaboration under the U.S.–Japan Memorandum on Cooperation Regarding Shipbuilding.

The ITA-facilitated mission brought together Japanese government and industry stakeholders to visit U.S. shipyards; senior state and local officials, including Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair; and Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly; and private sector partners to advance shared priorities. These priorities include expanding the United States’ shipbuilding capacity, strengthening supply chains, advancing next-generation shipyard technologies, and supporting maritime workforce development.

Throughout the visits, delegates participated in site assessment discussions and technical exchanges aimed at identifying opportunities for collaboration and future investment in the United States. The mission highlighted the strength of U.S. shipbuilding regions and reinforced the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in achieving President Donald J. Trump’s objective to restore America’s maritime dominance.

The Department of Commerce will now work with interagency partners and Japanese counterparts to identify potential FDI opportunities resultant from the mission.

This engagement reflects ITA’s broader efforts to promote foreign investment into the United States, enhance industrial resilience, and support the competitiveness of critical sectors across the U.S. economy.