WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald

Trump on Thursday said French-based shipping firm CMA CGM would

invest $20 billion in the United States to build out shipping

logistics and terminals.

Trump told reporters he would also announce a new program

for building ships in the United States next week or the

following week, including incentives.

CMA CGM is the world's third-largest container shipping

line.

Its CEO Rodolphe Saade, who joined Trump in the Oval Office,

confirmed the $20 billion investment and said it was expected to

create 10,000 jobs.

The shipping line industry is faced with

uncertainty

as the Trump administration's plans for import tariffs and

port fees on Chinese-built vessels threaten to shake up maritime

trade.

The $20 billion investment over four years would include

expansion of container ports and the creation of an air cargo

hub in Chicago supported by five new Boeing 777

freighters flown by American pilots, CMA CGM said in a

statement.

Saade, a French-Lebanese billionaire who controls CMA

CGM with other family members, told Trump at the White House

that his group was also looking at supporting building of

container ships and would make an announcement "in the coming

weeks".

The company further plans to raise its number of

U.S.-flagged vessels to 30 from 10 currently, he added.

Lagging U.S. vessel capacity and shipbuilding compared

with China has been a major concern for U.S. officials. A White

House

document

seen by Reuters showed the Trump administration plans to

levy fees on imports on Chinese-made ships and offer tax credits

to resuscitate domestic shipbuilding.

CMA CGM operates port terminals in New York and Los

Angeles that it acquired as part of multi-billion investments

drawing on record profits made during a post-COVID shipping

boom.

The Marseille-based firm is the biggest cargo carrier

for U.S. retail giant Walmart ( WMT ).

CMA CGM, which is also part of a vessel-sharing alliance

with Asian lines including China's COSCO, had warned last week

that U.S. port fees on China-built ships would have a

big impact

on all shipping firms.