Former Federal Maritime Commission chairman Louis Sola said the United States must strike a careful balance in reviving its maritime sector, citing challenges in shipbuilding, trade policy and energy infrastructure, reports American Shipper.

Speaking at FreightWaves' F3 conference, Mr Sola noted China builds 40 to 50 per cent of new cargo ships, while the US produces less than one per cent. He said steep tonnage fees on Chinese-built ships aim to reinvest in American shipyards but warned of high domestic costs and lost economies of scale.

Mr Sola said penalties on Chinese vessels have disrupted agricultural exports from the West Coast, with blank sailings limiting access to Asian markets and threatening broader economic impacts.

Maritime trade growth is projected to stall at 0.5 per cent this year, partly due to reduced transpacific imports. Mr Sola called for greater transparency and finalised trade deals to restore confidence among cargo owners.

He predicted a rebound in transpacific imports by year-end and into 2026. However, he criticised a proposed UN carbon tax, saying it could cost US consumers $5 billion annually and add $100 per container, despite lacking viable zero-carbon technology.

Mr Sola highlighted LNG as a cleaner, cost-effective fuel, but said limited bunkering infrastructure - only three US sites - hinders adoption. He urged investment in LNG facilities to unlock its potential.

He welcomed plans for five new greenfield ports with intermodal rail links, calling them a long-overdue boost to US maritime infrastructure.

Mr Sola warned that retaliatory tariffs from China on South Korean- and Japanese-built ships show the risks of escalating trade tensions, and stressed the need for diplomatic balance in global shipping policy.