The United States has announced new port fees on Chinese-built and operated ships in an effort to promote the domestic shipbuilding industry and curb China’s dominance in the sector, as reported by The Guardian. This decision, stemming from a probe initiated by the previous administration, comes amidst a major trade war between the US and China. The new fees are intended to foster American economic security and the free flow of commerce. US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, stated that these actions would help reverse Chinese dominance and address threats to the US supply chain.
Under the new rule, per tonnage or per container fees will be implemented on each voyage of all Chinese-linked ships to the US, not at each port as initially feared by some industry stakeholders. Owners can avoid these fees by placing orders for US-built vessels, which can be assessed up to five times annually. The fees for Chinese-built ships will start at $18 per net ton (NT) or $120 per container, potentially imposing a $1.8m fee on a ship carrying 15,000 containers.
The US shipbuilding industry, once dominant after the second world war, has gradually declined and now accounts for just 0.1% of the global output. In contrast, China builds nearly half of all ships, with South Korea and Japan accounting for the majority of the remaining share. The sector is predominantly led by these three countries. Thus, the imposition of these fees could significantly impact global trade dynamics.
Interestingly, there will be separate fees for Chinese-operated ships and Chinese-built ships, with both increasing over the coming years. In addition to these measures, the US will also introduce fees for car carrier vessels and liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers, although the latter will take effect over three years. These actions reflect the US government’s commitment to supporting its domestic industries amidst intensifying trade tensions with China.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/us-unveils-new-port-fees-on-beijing-linked-vessels-to-reverse-chinese-dominance
