U.S. and Japan Establish ‘Shipbuilding Working Group’ to Strengthen Maritime Alliance Against China

According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, the governments of the United States (U.S.) and Japan are coordinating the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on the shipbuilding industry ahead of the U.S.-Japan summit scheduled for the 28th. The two countries plan to establish a joint Shipbuilding Working Group to strengthen the shipbuilding industry in response to China, which holds the top position in global shipbuilding volume.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that Takeshi Kaneko, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and George Glass, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, will sign the memorandum during Donald Trump’s visit. Trump is visiting Japan from the 27th to the 29th and will hold a summit with Japan on the 28th.
Under the memorandum, the two countries will establish a ‘U.S.-Japan Shipbuilding Working Group’ to promote cooperation for the advancement of the shipbuilding industry.
In addition, companies from both nations will collaborate to invest in the construction and maintenance of shipyards, aiming to enhance competitiveness and efficiency.
The two countries are also considering standardizing ship design and component specifications to improve mutual compatibility in shipbuilding. This will facilitate joint technology development and allow Japanese-designed components to be produced at U.S. shipyards. Discussions will also cover increasing flexibility in ship repair and component supply.
Efforts to secure and nurture talent for the shipbuilding industry will be strengthened. The memorandum includes provisions for developing and introducing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance ship design and functionality.
Shipbuilding is one of the cooperative sectors included in the $550 billion investment plan agreed upon during U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations. The Yomiuri Shimbun analyzed that this initiative aims to bolster maritime transport capabilities critical to security and to counter China, which leads the world in shipbuilding volume.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), China has recently expanded its global market share in shipbuilding volume at a rapid pace. Last year, China’s share of new orders exceeded 70%, while Japan’s share declined to just 8%.
The U.S. and Japan share concerns that increased dependence on China in shipbuilding could disrupt maritime transport in times of crisis.
The memorandum also states that "a strong and innovative shipbuilding industry is vital to the economic security, resilience, and competitiveness of both countries."
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Japan are expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen the supply of key minerals such as rare earth elements (REE). The agreement will likely include measures to promote joint development investment and diversify supply chains.
This aims to reduce dependence on China, which regulates REE exports, and to establish an independent supply chain.


sjmary@fnnews.com Seo Hye-jin Reporter