China Imposes Additional Port Fees on U.S. Vessels

China has announced new port fees for vessels associated with the United States, marking a significant escalation in trade and maritime tensions between the two nations. According to China’s Ministry of Transport, the fees will apply to U.S.-owned, operated, or flagged ships, as well as vessels built in the United States, starting 14 October 2025.

The ministry described the move as a response to planned U.S. port fees targeting Chinese vessels. From the same date, ships built in China or operated by Chinese companies will also be subject to fees when docking at their first U.S. port. Analysts estimate that charges could exceed $1 million for ships carrying more than 10,000 containers and may increase annually until 2028.

Under the new rules, U.S. vessels visiting Chinese ports will initially face a charge of 400 yuan ($56) per net tonnage per voyage. This fee is set to rise to 640 yuan ($90) in April 2026, 880 yuan in April 2027, and reach 1,120 yuan ($157) by April 2028. Conversely, Chinese ships visiting the U.S. will face a flat fee of $80 per net tonnage per voyage.

The policy comes amid a broader U.S. initiative to boost domestic shipbuilding and curb China’s growing influence in commercial and naval shipping. Over the last 20 years, China has become the world leader in shipbuilding, producing both military and commercial vessels at a scale far surpassing the United States. In 2024 alone, Chinese shipyards completed over 1,000 commercial vessels, compared with fewer than 10 in the U.S.

Recent weeks have seen rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, as the temporary 90-day trade tariff truce agreed in August nears its end in early November. Both sides are expected to discuss economic and maritime issues during a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea later this month.