U.S. announces plans to charge fees on Chinese ships docking at U.S. ports

A Chinese flag flies from a ship at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California, on April 15, 2025. (Noah Berger/AP via CNN Newsource)

The United States has unveiled plans to impose new port fees on Chinese ships, saying it aims to revive American shipbuilding against China’s dominance in the industry.

U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on a sweeping trade war with China, a move his administration portrays as a bid to bring manufacturing back to the United States but that critics and many economists fear could trigger a global recession and increased prices for consumers.

The Federal Register notice posted by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday said the U.S. government will charge fees on all Chinese-built and -owned ships docking in U.S. ports based on net tonnage or goods carried on each voyage.

The new fees will be enforced in around 180 days’ time, rolled out in a phased manner, and may be raised in coming years, according to the USTR notice.

The latest announcement backtracks from proposals floated in February to charge China-built ships of up to US$1.5 million per port call, which had prompted a widespread industry backlash, Reuters reported.

“Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

“The Trump administration’s actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the U.S. supply chain, and send a demand signal for U.S.-built ships.”

The U.S. plan provoked a robust response from Beijing.

“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to this,” China’s commerce ministry said in a statement Friday. “China will closely follow the relevant developments of the US and will resolutely take necessary measures to safeguard its own rights and interests.”

And at a regular press conference, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian said that imposing port fees and adding tariffs on loading and unloading equipment were “measures that harm others and the U.S. itself.”

“It not only raises global shipping costs and disrupts the stability of the global industry but also increases inflation pressures in the U.S., harming the interests of American consumers and businesses,” Lin said, adding that the measures would “eventually fail to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry.”

From October 14, Chinese-owned and operated ships will be charged $50 a net ton, a rate that will increase by $30 a year over the next three years.

Chinese-built ships owned by non-Chinese firms will be charged $18 a net ton, with annual fee increases of $5 over the same period.

The new levies on Chinese cargo vessels add to escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump has already hiked tariffs to a combined 145 per cent on Chinese-made goods while Beijing has retaliated with 125 per cent duties on U.S. goods.

Speaking to reporters about tariffs at the White House earlier Thursday, Trump signaled a potential halt of the tit-for-tat tariff hikes, which China has described as a “meaningless” numbers game.

“I don’t want them to go higher because at a certain point you make it where people don’t buy,” he said.

Beijing said last Friday it does not intend to lift tariffs on U.S. goods higher than the rate it has announced.

Trump also told reporters on Thursday that he wants to negotiate trade deals with every country, including China. He noted that his administration is speaking with Chinese officials in an effort to work out a deal.

The day prior, a person familiar with the Chinese government’s thinking said China is open to trade negotiations with the United States but that any talks should be based on “respect” and greater “consistency and reciprocity” from the Trump administration.

Shawn Deng contributed reporting.

Written by Kathleen Magramo and Anna Cooban, CNN