U.S. Targets Chinese Ships And Operators With Massive New Port Charges

In a major retaliatory move against China, the United States is proposing steep fees that could cost ocean carriers millions of dollars per port call, Stuart Chrils reported for FreightWaves.

The proposal follows a USTR investigation in January that concluded China was using “unfair trade practices” to dominate global shipping and shipbuilding markets. I Photo: Beat Strasser Wikimedia Commons

According to a proposal published Friday in the Federal Register by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), fees would be set at:

• $1.5 million per U.S. port call for ships built in China

• $500,000 per call for operators with even one Chinese-built ship in their fleet

• $1 million per call for Chinese-based vessel operators like Cosco, the world’s fourth-largest container line

The plan has sent shockwaves through the global shipping industry. Ocean carriers rely on a complex web of cooperation, including vessel-sharing agreements, service route collaborations, and berthing deals.

These new fees will likely be passed on to shippers in the form of surcharges and higher rates, which could ultimately lead to increased prices for imported goods.

The proposal follows a USTR investigation in January that concluded China was using “unfair trade practices” to dominate global shipping and shipbuilding markets. The final decision on implementing the fees rests with President Trump, with a USTR hearing scheduled for March 24.

Analysts from Linerlytica estimate that 17% of container vessels calling at U.S. ports are Chinese-made, accounting for 1.29 million of the 28.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) imported by the U.S. in 2024.

If the charges go into effect, they could significantly disrupt global supply chains and further strain U.S.-China trade relations.