US Sets New Fees on Chinese Ships at Ports

The Trump administration has introduced new port fees on Chinese-built and Chinese-owned ships docking at US ports, aiming to bolster the US shipbuilding sector and reduce China's dominance in global shipping. The policy, revised after industry pushback, calculates fees based on cargo weight or container volume rather than per port visit, and will be phased in over several years with incremental increases. Ship owners can receive waivers if they commit to purchasing US-built vessels. Chinese officials have denounced the fees as trade bullying and warned of disruptions to global supply chains and higher shipping costs for US consumers and businesses. The US Trade Representative justifies the move by citing China's aggressive shipbuilding policies, which have resulted in Chinese-built ships making up about 81% of the world fleet. The policy is part of broader escalating US-China trade tensions, with additional measures targeting cargo handling equipment and LNG vessels expected in the future.