U.S. plans costly port fees for shipping lines in retaliation against China

Posted on February 24, 2025   |  

The U.S. plans to charge ocean carriers up to $1.5 million per port visit for using ships built in China.

Operators with at least one Chinese-built ship must pay a $500,000 fee.

China-based shipping companies, including Cosco, the world’s fourth-largest container line, will face a $1 million fee per U.S. port visit.

The plan could disrupt global shipping, affecting service routes, vessel-sharing agreements, and port operations in the U.S. market.

New rules will require U.S. export cargo to be transported on U.S.-flagged and crewed vessels.

A USTR investigation found that China’s trade practices give it an unfair advantage in global shipping and shipbuilding, leading to these measures.

Analysts report that Chinese-built ships make up 17% of vessels at U.S. ports, carrying 1.29 million of the 28.2 million TEUs the U.S. imported in 2024.