Overview

• China’s Ministry of Transport will charge 400 yuan per net ton from Oct. 14 on vessels owned or operated by U.S. entities, ships with at least 25% U.S. ownership, and those built in or flagged to the U.S., with increases scheduled through 2028.
• The Chinese fees apply once at the first port of call and are capped at five voyages per vessel each year, matching structural features of the U.S. plan.
• U.S. port fees on China‑linked ships begin the same day at $50 per net ton per voyage, rising by $30 annually through 2028, with a five‑charge annual cap per vessel.
• USTR set a $46 per net ton fee for foreign‑built vehicle carriers, scrapped a threatened suspension of LNG export licenses, created carve‑outs for certain ethane and LPG carriers, and moved to levy 100% tariffs on some Chinese ship‑to‑shore cranes and other cargo‑handling gear while sparing shipping containers.
• China paired the port charges with broader steps, including expanded export controls and an antitrust probe into Qualcomm, as analysts flagged limited near‑term trade disruption but significant potential cost exposure for carriers.