NextFin news, China’s Ministry of Transport declared on Friday, October 10, 2025, that it will begin charging special port fees on vessels owned, operated, or flagged by American entities when they dock at Chinese ports. This policy will take effect on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The fees start at 400 yuan (approximately $56) per net ton per voyage and will escalate annually to reach 1,120 yuan (about $157) per net ton by 2028. Each ship will be charged a maximum of five times per year under this scheme.
This move is a direct retaliation against similar port fees imposed by the United States on Chinese-owned or operated vessels. The U.S. fees, initiated earlier in 2025 under a Section 301 investigation, target China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, citing unfair trade practices and non-market policies.
The U.S. fees charge Chinese vessels $50 per net ton initially, increasing by $30 per net ton annually until 2028, with a cap of five charges per vessel annually. These fees aim to support the revival of the American shipbuilding industry.
China’s Ministry of Transport described its new fees as “countermeasures” against what it calls “wrongful” and “discriminatory” U.S. practices that threaten China’s shipping industry and could disrupt the international trade system.
The affected vessels include those flying the U.S. flag, built in the U.S., or owned or operated by American companies or individuals.
This tit-for-tat escalation comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries, with Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping expected to meet later this month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
In addition to port fees, China has recently introduced other trade restrictions, including limits on rare earth exports and lithium battery production equipment, further intensifying the trade dispute.
Industry analysts estimate that while the U.S. fees could cost Chinese shipping companies billions annually, China’s retaliatory fees will have a comparatively smaller financial impact on American shipping firms.
The implementation of these fees marks a significant development in the ongoing economic and trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
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