Bentzel calls for reinvestment of maritime fees to build back domestic maritime industrial base

The National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) hosted a record-breaking 2025 Annual Meeting in Huntington Beach, California, the first under NAWE President Carl Bentzel’s tenure. Bentzel was appointed President of NAWE in December of 2024 and has been steadily building the organization, bringing a wide range of perspectives into industry dialogue.

“NAWE plays a critical role in bringing together the diverse voices of the maritime industry to address shared challenges and opportunities – and our annual meeting is where that collaboration comes to life,” said Carl W. Bentzel, President of NAWE. “As we look toward building a more resilient and competitive supply chain, it is vital that revenues collected through tariffs on critical port equipment be reinvested directly into the U.S. maritime industry. These investments will help modernize port infrastructure, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and ensure our nation’s terminals are prepared to meet the demands of 21st-century commerce.”

The 2025 Annual Meeting was timely as it overlapped with the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) issuance of the notice of modification and proposed modification of action and a request for comments on maritime-related tariffs. The action represents certain final decisions regarding the issuance of 100% tariffs on Ship-to-Shore cranes manufactured in China, and the issuance of new, heretofore unannounced expansion of a 150% tariff to a wide range of other Chinese-manufactured cargo handling equipment.

NAWE has worked closely with the USTR throughout this process, testifying twice on the proposed tariffs early in 2025, and has been in continual contact with the White House and other federal agencies charged with implementation of new maritime policies. The maritime industry stands united in advocating that all maritime related fees, penalties, and tariffs should be reinvested as dedicated funding and investment in the industry as the nation seeks to revive its maritime industrial base. NAWE believes these funds should be administered through a Maritime Security Trust Fund, a concept outlined in the Administration’s “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” Executive Order. NAWE further amplified this initiative by sending a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership and called for the inclusion of the Maritime Security Trust Fund in the surface transportation reauthorization bill being considered this year.

As dialogue and policy develops around the revitalization of America’s maritime industrial base, NAWE has established a Ship-to-Shore Crane and Cargo Handling Equipment Task Force that is developing a legislative proposal to meet the goals outlined by the Administration.

NAWE will continue to bring together a diverse group of maritime industry leaders from across the nation. As exhibited during the three-day Annual Meeting, marine terminal operators, equipment manufacturers, intermodal partners, trucking companies, insurance providers, and other key stakeholders convened to discuss the most pressing issues shaping the future of the U.S. waterfront. Click here to view the NAWE Annual Meeting agenda.