American shipyards will again be absent from a key annual summit for the global shipbuilding industry, in the latest sign that the United States is charting a lonely course as it strives to revive its maritime sector.
Chinese shipbuilding industry representatives told a visiting Japanese delegation in Beijing last week that “globally concerning issues” should be discussed at the coming JECK Top Executive Meeting, a key annual industry summit.
The JECK meeting – which brings together shipbuilding executives from Japan, Europe, China and South Korea – was previously known as the JECKU summit, as it was customary for the United States to also attend.
But America has failed to send representatives to the gathering since 2023, and will also be absent from October’s summit in Japan. The reason behind the US withdrawal from the event has not been disclosed.
