China to levy 400‑yuan/ton port fee on U.S.-linked ships Oct. 14, mirroring U.S. charges
China will impose a special port fee of 400 yuan per net ton per voyage on vessels owned or operated by Americans, U.S.-flagged ships, and ships built in the U.S., effective Oct. 14, rising annually to 1,120 yuan by 2028 and capped at five charged voyages per vessel per year — mirroring a U.S. schedule that starts at $50 per net ton and rises by $30 annually. Beijing’s transport ministry called U.S. charges “discriminatory,” framing the move as part of a broader retaliatory campaign alongside rare‑earths export curbs and an antitrust probe, while analysts note U.S. beneficial ownership is about 5% of the world fleet (U.S. shipbuilding is roughly 0.1% of the market) and industry estimates say the U.S. fees could cost top carriers up to $3.2 billion next year.
📌 Key Facts
- China will impose a port fee of 400 yuan per net ton per voyage on vessels owned or operated by Americans, U.S.-flagged ships, and ships built in the U.S., effective Oct. 14.
- China’s fee schedule escalates annually to 1,120 yuan per net ton by 2028 and is capped at charging a vessel for up to five voyages per year.
- The measure is explicitly framed to mirror recent U.S. port charges, which are $50 per net ton per voyage and rise by $30 annually until 2028, with the same five‑charge annual cap.
- China’s Ministry of Transport criticized the U.S. fees as "discriminatory" and said they damage the international trade order; Beijing presents its measures as reciprocal.
- Analysts note the U.S. has roughly 5% of the world fleet by beneficial ownership, while U.S. commercial shipbuilding is about 0.1% of the global market (fewer than 10 commercial ships built in the U.S. last year).
- Alphaliner estimated the U.S. port fees could cost the top 10 carriers up to $3.2 billion next year, indicating significant industry impact from the fee dispute.
- The port fees are part of a broader Chinese response alongside new curbs on rare earths and lithium‑battery technology and an antitrust probe into Qualcomm, timed ahead of a possible Trump–Xi meeting at APEC.
📰 Sources (3)
- The rare‑earths curbs are presented alongside China’s new port fees and an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm as part of a broader campaign to counter U.S. trade limits.
- Scope clarified: applies to vessels owned or operated by Americans, U.S.-flagged ships, and ships built in the U.S.
- Chinese fee schedule specifics: 400 yuan per net ton per voyage, escalating annually to 1,120 yuan by 2028; capped at five voyages per vessel per year; effective Oct. 14.
- U.S. port fee details mirrored: $50 per net ton per voyage, rising by $30 annually until 2028; max five charges per vessel per year.
- China MOT statement labels U.S. fees 'discriminatory' and damaging to the international trade order.
- Analyst context: Reddal notes U.S. share is ~5% of the world fleet by beneficial ownership, while U.S. shipbuilding is ~0.1% of global market with <10 commercial ships built last year.
- Impact estimate: Alphaliner warned U.S. port fees could cost the top 10 carriers up to $3.2 billion next year.
- Context: Move comes alongside new Chinese curbs on rare earths/lithium battery tech and ahead of a potential Trump–Xi meeting at APEC.