It will impose port fees on ships owned, operated, manufactured or flaged by the following week as a countermeasure to the corresponding US port charges connected to China, starting the same day (Tuesday), the Chinese Ministry of Transport said.
This move, which is part of the US – China, came shortly before the Trump statements, that there is no longer any reason to meet China President Xi Jing in two weeks in South Korea, as planned and that duties were coming again. Trump argued to justify his move that China has sent letters to countries, stating that it is planning to impose controls on exports on rare earth’s production.
China is targeting many ships with its new fees
There are relatively few ships or US -flagged ships contributing to international trade, but China is expected to “trap” more ships by imposing duties on companies whose 25% or more of their shares or seats on the Boards of Directors hold US -based investment funds.
The US -based Matson shipping company informed its customers that it is subject to the new China port fees, but does not plan to change its route program.
In addition, CMA-CGM’s American president Lines, based in Israel-based Zim, are likely to be affected by Reuters, which is based on Israel, whose more than 25% of the shares appear to be owned by US company.
The fees of China could also apply to Poseidon Seaspan ships, according to shipping experts.
Many ships will face fees both in the US and in China
“This could have a significant impact, as it means that more than 100 Seaspan -owned vessels and are killed by many large container companies will now be subject to fees in China, in addition to the US fees for their ships manufactured in China,” Jensen said. Also, on Tuesday, ships manufactured in China – or operate or belong to Chinese entities – should pay an end to the first port of approach in the United States.
Blow for Cosco
Ships belonging to or managed by a Chinese entity will face a fixed fee of $ 50 per net capacity per journey to the US. According to Reuters, citing analysts, the Chinese company COSCO, including the OOCl fleet, is the most exposed with the late $ 2 billion in 2026.
Maersk Line Limited, APL, Zim, Seaspan and Cosco did not immediately respond to Reuters requests to comment on fees.
Biased measure against China, says Beijing
US dates on China ships, following a survey by the US Commercial Representative, are part of a broader US effort to revive the domestic shipbuilding industry and to alleviate China’s maritime and commercial maritime power.
“It is clearly biased and severely damages the legitimate interests of the China Maritime Industry, seriously disrupts the stability of the global supply chain and also seriously undermines the international economic and commercial order,” the Chinese ministry said.
In a separate statement later published on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce argued that Chinese countermeasures were “justified” self -defense with the aim of ensuring justice in the world shipping and shipping markets.
In the last two decades, China has been raised in the first place in the world of shipbuilding, with its largest shipyards undertaking both commercial and military projects.
Last year, Chinese shipyards built more than 1,000 merchant ships, while the US built less than 10, according to military and industrial analysts.
Global transport is complicated
The charges announced by China, as well as those imposed by the US, “add further complexity and costs to the global network that keeps goods in movement and economies linked, and are at risk of harming their exporters, producers and consumers at a time when the worldwide,”
For ships connected to the US and tied to Chinese ports from Tuesday, the charge will be 400 yuan ($ 56.13) per net metric tone, the Chinese Ministry of Transport said.
This will increase to 640 yuan ($ 89.81) from April 17, 2026 and to 880 yuan ($ 123.52) from April 17, 2027.
For ships that have been sailing in Chinese ports since April 17, 2028, the charge will be 1,120 yuan ($ 157.16) per net metric.
Tensions between China and the United States have been intensified in September, with the two superpowers struggling to overcome their trade trucks – a 90 -day pause from August 11 that expires around 9 November.
Duties under the US-China trade war have abruptly limited Chinese imports of American agricultural and energy products.
