INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
(Analysis) The Trump administration has ignited a global trade firestorm by proposing steep port fees on Chinese-linked ships docking at
United States ports, a move unveiled in February 2025 by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The policy targets
vessels built in China or operated by Chinese firms
It imposes charges of up to $1.5 million per port call for Chinese-built ships
Ships operated by Chinese companies face a $1 million charge.Additionally, operators with over 50% of new orders placed with Chinese
shipyards will incur an extra $1 million penalty
(Photo Internet reproduction)Fueled by state subsidies and a robust industrial base, China now produces 1,700 vessels annually, while the
United States languishes at fewer than five.United States Maritime Strategy Faces Pushback Amid Rising CostsThe administration frames
travel on American-flagged ships within seven years, a bid to jumpstart domestic production despite a yawning capacity gap.Industry reaction
has been swift and scathing
Shipping executives warn that fees affecting 80% of United States port arrivals could add $222 to $500 per container, driving up costs for
American importers who handle 60 million TEUs yearly.United States agriculture exporters, shipping $64 billion in goods like soybeans, face
an estimated $372 million to $930 million in annual losses, with bookings already faltering.Operators like COSCO, with two-thirds of its
fleet Chinese-built, could see voyage costs soar beyond $3 million, prompting fears of rerouting or fleet splits
Analysts predict a 25% spike in freight rates and port congestion, potentially echoing pandemic-era chaos.Can this wound China? The numbers
Allies like Japan and South Korea, producing 700 ships yearly combined, lack the scale to supplant China, leaving the United States dream
of maritime revival on shaky ground.This is less a masterstroke than a calculated risk
As hearings conclude, the world braces for a trade landscape reshaped by ambition and uncertainty.
