China strikes back at US ships with new port fees

China will levy retaliatory port service fees on US-linked vessels from 14 October.

IMAGE: Aerial view of a Port in Shanghai. Getty Images.

China will impose new port service fees on US-linked ships from, mirroring US measures against Chinese vessels.

The fees will apply to US-flagged and US-built ships, and to vessels owned or operated by US entities. Companies fall in scope if more than 25% of their ownership, voting rights or board seats are US-based.

China’s Ministry of Transport said the charges will apply only to a vessel’s first China call per voyage and are capped at five voyages per vessel per year.

Beijing framed the move as a direct response to the US Trade Representative’s 17 April action on China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. The US measures will also take effect on 14 October and target Chinese vessels calling at US ports. These vessels can be owned, operated, flagged or built in China.

China called the US action a violation of trade principles and the China–US Maritime Shipping Agreement.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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