Overview

• The U.S. began collecting a $50-per-ton fee on China-linked vessels on October 14, with rates scheduled to rise in stages to $140 per ton by 2028 following a Section 301 finding of unfair practices.
• China started charging special port fees on U.S.-owned, -operated, -built or -flagged ships, exempted Chinese-built vessels, and set rules to bill at the first port or first five voyages, with an April 17 annual cycle and enforcement that can stall import/export procedures.
• Beijing banned transactions with five U.S.-linked subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, including the Philly Shipyard unit, sending Hanwha Ocean shares down roughly 5%–6% in Seoul trading.
• China’s Ministry of Transport opened a joint probe into the effects of the U.S. investigation on its shipping and shipbuilding supply chains and signaled further measures could follow.
• Carriers are already shifting fleets to avoid fees—deploying non‑Chinese‑built ships on U.S. routes and exploring ship swaps—with analysts warning that up to 13% of crude tankers and 11% of container ships could be affected, increasing freight volatility and costs.