White House official calls for U.S. shipbuilding ties with South Korea and Japan
Russell Vought said the United States wants to work with South Korean and Japanese shipbuilders and to reward firms that invest domestically.
At a Washington forum hosted by the Hudson Institute, Russell Vought, head of the White House Office of Management and Budget, emphasized the administration’s push to revive American shipbuilding through partnerships with South Korea and Japan. He pointed to Hanwha Group’s recent acquisition of Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia as an example of the kind of investment the U.S. wants to attract. Vought called for expanding federal contracting opportunities beyond the usual prime contractors to foster competition.
He also argued that companies establishing or revitalizing shipyards on U.S. soil should receive special rewards. The remarks came as South Korea pledged US$150 billion toward shipbuilding cooperation under its broader $350 billion investment commitment from a recent trade deal.
Why it matters
The push for foreign shipbuilding cooperation could reshape U.S. defense procurement and create domestic jobs.
In this story
