InfoSAWIT, BEIJING – Trade tensions between the United States (US) and China have flared up again. The Chinese government has officially imposed additional fees on ships owned, operated, or flagged by the US, effective October 14, 2025. This move is in retaliation against Washington's plan to impose new port fees on Chinese-linked vessels.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport stated that the surcharge will be levied on every voyage by ships owned or operated by US companies and individuals, including US-built or US-flagged ships. "This measure is a legitimate countermeasure against the unilateral policy of the US," the ministry wrote in an official statement on Friday (10/10).
Under the new provisions, US ships will be charged 400 yuan (approximately US$56) per net ton per voyage starting October 14, 2025. This rate will increase to 640 yuan on April 17, 2026, then to 880 yuan in 2027, and will reach 1,120 yuan (about US$157) on April 17, 2028.
Meanwhile, ships owned or operated by Chinese entities sailing to the US will also be charged new additional fees at their first American port. Analysts estimate these charges could amount to more than US$1 million for a vessel with a capacity exceeding 10,000 containers.
Washington previously imposed new fees on ships linked to China following a US Trade Representative (USTR) investigation that assessed Beijing's dominance in the global shipbuilding industry as a threat to US security and economy. This move is part of the US strategy to revive its domestic shipping industry and curb China's maritime influence.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Transport accused the US policy of being discriminatory and damaging to the international trade order. "The step seriously disrupts the stability of the global supply chain and harms the legitimate interests of the Chinese shipping industry," the ministry emphasized, as reported by InfoSAWIT from the Economic Times on Monday (13/10/2025).
The reciprocal measure is predicted to worsen tensions ahead of the expiration of the 90-day trade truce between the two countries this November. Several traders believe the situation will further pressure US agricultural and energy imports to China. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the APEC Conference in South Korea later this month—a meeting now viewed as a new test for the future of trade relations between the two global economic giants. (T2)
