The United States is preparing to impose new port fees on vessels linked to China. The policy could cost major shipping companies more than $3 billion in the coming year, according to a Reuters report.
The move is set to take effect on October 14. It is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to counter China’s growing influence in global shipping and strengthen America’s shipbuilding industry.
The new rule will require ship operators, not U.S. authorities, to determine whether their vessels fall under the new fee structure. The U.S. Trade Representative said the responsibility for confirming and paying the charges lies with the ship’s operator.
Payments must be submitted through the Treasury’s Pay.gov system rather than at ports of entry.
Under the plan, vessels owned or operated by Chinese companies will pay a flat $80 per net ton per voyage to U.S. ports. Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built ships will face a higher fee. They will pay either $23 per net ton or $154 for every 20-foot container unit, depending on which amount is greater. Each ship will only be charged a maximum of five times a year.
Industry data firm Alphaliner estimated that the top 10 cargo carriers could pay as much as $3.2 billion in fees next year. Chinese shipping giant COSCO, including its OOCL fleet, could account for nearly half of that total. COSCO alone could owe around $1.53 billion in 2026.
Other shipping companies, including France’s CMA CGM, have already rerouted Chinese-built vessels away from U.S. ports. They are doing so to avoid the new costs.
The policy has been softened from initial proposals after pushback from the shipping industry. USTR exempted many U.S.-based operators and delayed the timeline for liquefied natural gas carriers. However, the final version expanded the fees to include all foreign-built roll-on/roll-off auto carriers. Exceptions will be made for U.S.-flagged vessels.
Beijing quickly condemned the measure. Premier Li Qiang signed an order promising retaliation if Chinese ships or crews are targeted by discriminatory policies.
The escalating dispute will likely be a major topic when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet later this month. They are scheduled to hold talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
The stakes are high for both sides. American shipyards built fewer than 10 commercial vessels last year. China produced more than 1,000, many of them with military capabilities. Trump officials say the new fees are a step toward reversing that imbalance. They also say the revenue will help fund a long-term plan to revive the U.S. shipbuilding sector. That plan is now making its way through Congress with bipartisan backing.
Some analysts believe the October 14 deadline could be postponed or dropped as part of broader negotiations. But the uncertainty is already affecting global shipping decisions. Industry experts say the looming costs add another layer of geopolitical risk for cargo operators. The U.S. and China remain locked in a wider competition for economic and strategic dominance.