The Ministry of Transport of the Chinese mainland has published a 10‐article document detailing special port fees to be levied on ships owned or operated by U.S. enterprises, organizations and individuals. Effective October 14, the plan aims to safeguard fair competition in international shipping in response to recent U.S. measures.
The document clarifies fee scope and standards, specifies which entities will collect the charges and identifies the voyages subject to payment. It also establishes that fee rates and the charging period will be dynamically adjusted to reflect evolving market conditions.
Exempt from these fees are ships built in the Chinese mainland, empty vessels entering shipyards solely for repairs, as well as other specific categories outlined in the plan.
This move follows a U.S. announcement under Section 301 of additional port fees on vessels from the Chinese mainland, which the ministry said violates WTO rules and the China‐U.S. maritime transport agreement, harming bilateral maritime trade.
By introducing these reciprocal measures, authorities in the Chinese mainland intend to protect domestic industries and ensure a balanced playing field for global shipping players.
Reference(s):
China details measures for charging special port fees on U.S. ships
cgtn.com
