Overview

• Both governments began charging extra levies on China‑ and U.S.-linked vessels, prompting carriers to reroute ships and analysts to warn of distorted freight flows, with COSCO seen bearing a large share of the U.S. fees.
• China detailed exemptions that spare Chinese‑built ships and vessels entering shipyards for repair, while the U.S. granted a deferral for long‑term charters moving ethane and LPG through December 10.
• Beijing blacklisted five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, prohibiting Chinese entities from doing business with the units cited for aiding a U.S. probe of China’s maritime practices.
• Beijing’s rare‑earth rules announced on October 9 require approval to export products with more than 0.1% rare‑earth content and bar exports for foreign military use, heightening risks for technology and defense supply chains.
• President Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and new export controls on critical software by November 1 as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent courted support from India, Europe and Asian democracies, with a potential Trump–Xi meeting later this month still in play.