By Robbie Gramer and Yoko Kubota
President Trump's $20 billion plan to provide political risk insurance for ships aimed at unblocking the Strait of Hormuz could end up ultimately benefitting Beijing, given a significant portion of the oil exports transiting through the area is headed to China, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) said in a letter.
As a war-induced crunch in oil supplies worsens, the U.S. Development Finance Corp., a federal agency, has been tasked with implementing Trump's plan. The DFC has proposed a government-backed reinsurance program--allowing insurers to buy coverage to offset risks--that would be fronted by Chubb, a Swiss-American insurer.
The war in Iran halted most maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuzwhich carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas--and roiled global energy markets. Insurance premiums for maritime trade have skyrocketed as Iran escalates threats to target tankers going through the strait.
Shaheen, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the intended recipients of the program are unclear and asked for details on how eligibility would be determined. "If the DFC's proposal aims to support all energy exports to truly lower U.S. and global prices, Beijing stands to be the greatest direct beneficiary from this proposal," she said in a letter to the DFC reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
China imports as much as 40% of its oil and 30% of its liquid natural gas through the strait, according to researchers at Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The DFC has said the offering would apply to vessels that meet eligibility criteria set by the U.S. government.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 23, 2026 13:01 ET (17:01 GMT)
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