World’s Largest Ocean Carriers Face Costly U.S. Port Fees Under Proposed Rules

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed sweeping new restrictions targeting Chinese-built ships and operators, including substantial port fees that could reshape global shipping economics.

The action, stemming from a Section 301 investigation initiated by five major U.S. labor unions in March 2024, found that China’s maritime sector practices are “unreasonable and burdensome to U.S. commerce.”

“China’s targeting for dominance burdens U.S. commerce by undercutting business opportunities and investments in the U.S. maritime sectors, creating economic security risks and undermining supply chain resilience,” the USTR stated in its findings.

The proposed measures include a significant $1.5 million flat fee per port call for any Chinese-built vessel entering U.S. ports. Additional tiered fees will apply based on operators’ exposure to Chinese-built vessels and newbuild orders.

Under the complex fee structure, operators with fleets comprising more than 50% Chinese-built vessels could face fees up to $1 million per U.S. port call, while those with a lower exposure to Chinese…