US Introduces Port Fees on Chinese-Linked Ships to Strengthen Domestic Shipbuilding Industry
The United States has announced new port fees targeting Chinese-built and operated vessels, aiming to bolster its domestic shipbuilding sector and reduce China’s dominance in global maritime trade. This move follows an investigation initiated under the previous administration and comes amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
According to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, “Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce.” The newly implemented fees will apply per tonnage or per container for each voyage of Chinese-linked ships entering US ports. The charges are capped at five assessments per year per vessel and can be waived if the shipowner commits to ordering a US-built vessel.
For Chinese-built ships, the fees commence at $18 per net ton or $120 per container. For instance, a vessel carrying 15,000 containers could incur a fee of up to $1.8 million. Separate fees are established for Chinese-operated ships, with both fee categories set to gradually increase over the coming years.
Beijing has expressed concerns over the new fees, warning that they could disrupt global shipping costs, destabilize supply chains, increase inflationary pressures within the United States, and adversely affect American consumers and businesses. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated that the measures are “detrimental to all parties” and will not succeed in revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry.
In addition to the port fees, the US administration has proposed tariffs on certain ship-to-shore cranes and Chinese cargo handling equipment. These actions are part of a broader strategy to address perceived threats to the US supply chain and to stimulate demand for domestically produced ships.
The implementation of these fees is scheduled to begin in mid-October, with the potential to further intensify trade disputes between the United States and China.
