The US is being outcompeted by China in the maritime domain. PRC-based shipyards booked 75% of new commercial orders for ships last year, and China’s market-distorting behavior in ports, shipyards, and on the high seas could shape a near-term future where Beijing effectively wields control over seaborne trade as a tool of economic coercion around the world. The US government has an opportunity to revitalize American shipbuilding, and strengthen the global competitiveness of American shipbuilders, through initiatives like ICE Pact, which focuses on the development of polar-capable icebreakers as a test-bed for shipbuilding policy innovation.
Over the past several months, the Wilson Center held a series of engagements with industry leaders, government officials, and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities for enhancing the economic viability and competitiveness of US shipyards. This report explores the strategic role government procurement programs can play to help US shipyards to improve their ability to deliver commercial and military vessels at lower costs, higher quality, and faster speeds for both the US government and customers around the world.
Since its inception in 2017, the Polar Institute has become a premier forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues, and is known in Washington, DC and elsewhere as the Arctic Public Square. The Institute holistically studies the central policy issues facing these regions—with an emphasis on Arctic governance, climate change, economic development, scientific research, security, and Indigenous communities—and communicates trusted analysis to policymakers and other stakeholders. Read more
The mission of the Wilson Center's Canada Institute is to raise the level of knowledge of Canada in the United States, particularly within the Washington, DC policy community. Research projects, initiatives, podcasts, and publications cover contemporary Canada, US-Canadian relations, North American political economy, and Canada's global role as it intersects with US national interests. Read more
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe”—an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
The Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition works to shape conversations and inspire meaningful action to strengthen technology, trade, infrastructure, and energy as part of American economic and global leadership that benefits the nation and the world. Read more
