US Proposes New Port Fees on Chinese Ships

The Trump administration has recently announced a strategy aimed at levying port charges on Chinese vessels in an effort to rejuvenate domestic shipbuilding and counteract China’s preeminence in the maritime industry. The proclamation from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) appears less draconian than an earlier proposal from February, which suggested imposing fees as high as $1.5 million (£1.1 million) for each American port visited by Chinese maritime traffic.

Under this new framework, implementation of these charges is slated to occur within 180 days, with incremental increases anticipated over the following years. The USTR commented that “China has largely achieved its dominance goals, severely disadvantaging U.S. companies, workers, and the overall economy.”

Fees are structured to be contingent on various metrics: for bulk vessels, charges will correlate with cargo weight, while container ships will incur fees based on their carrying capacity. Specifically, Chinese ship owners and operators will see an initial charge of $50 per ton, escalating by $30 annually for three years. Conversely, fees for vessels constructed in China will commence at $18 per ton or $120 per container, also rising over time.

Certain exemptions apply—empty vessels arriving for bulk exports like coal or grain, as well as inter-American shipping and U.S.-Canadian vessels operating in the Great Lakes, will not be subject to these new regulations.

Concerns have been expressed regarding potential disruptions to global commerce, particularly given President Trump’s existing tariff regime, which has already redirected cargo destined for U.S. ports toward European destinations. The ramifications of these policies could lead to increased prices for American consumers while simultaneously fostering significant congestion at ports in the European Union and the United Kingdom.