Overview

• Both governments began collecting new port charges on October 14, turning docks into a fresh battleground as Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s maritime dominance and revive U.S. shipbuilding.
• U.S. fees include $18 per net ton, or $120 per container, on Chinese‑built ships with collection capped at five calls per vessel per year, while China is charging U.S.-linked vessels and exempting Chinese‑built ships in some cases.
• Beijing escalated further by blacklisting five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and launching a probe into the U.S. Section 301 shipbuilding investigation, while warning the measures violate WTO rules.
• Analysts expect significant operational and cost impacts, with COSCO seen bearing a large share of expected 2026 fees and estimates that roughly 11% of container ships and 13% of crude tankers could be affected as carriers reroute.
• Markets signaled concern as U.S. stocks fell and Hanwha Ocean shares dropped, even as officials say working‑level talks are planned this week, a Trump–Xi meeting at APEC is still expected, and Trump’s threats of a 100% tariff and targeted trade actions remain in play.