INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on April 18, 2025, that the Trump administration will impose new port fees on
shipbuilding, address supply chain risks, and stimulate demand for US-built vessels.After a 180-day grace period, the US will charge
Chinese-owned or operated ships $50 per net ton of cargo per voyage, increasing by $30 each year to reach $140 by 2028.Non-Chinese operators
using Chinese-built ships will pay $18 per net ton or $120 per container, whichever is higher, with both figures rising over three years.The
policy caps charges at five voyages per vessel each year
Car carriers built outside the US will face a $150 per vehicle fee
Empty vessels arriving to collect US exports, such as grain or coal, will not pay these fees.Washington Targets Chinese Shipbuilding
Dominance With Escalating Port Charges
dependence on Chinese maritime logistics.The US hopes these fees will encourage shipowners to order American-built vessels, offering waivers
Industry groups warn that these fees, combined with tariffs as high as 245% on some Chinese goods, will increase costs for US businesses and
consumers.Early signs show cargoes originally bound for the US now divert to Europe, causing congestion in UK and EU ports and raising
transatlantic shipping rates
The new policy marks a major escalation in the US-China trade conflict, with global supply chains already feeling the effects.
