New US Port Fees on Chinese Ships Escalate Trade War

The US plans to impose millions of dollars in charges on large Chinese ships approaching its ports, intensifying the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. As China dominates global shipping—handling over 80% of worldwide trade—much of the commercial fleet will be affected by these changes. While some exceptions are anticipated, the shipping industry is expected to adapt to minimize economic burdens. These fees aim to revive the US shipbuilding industry and address what Washington calls China’s unreasonable moves to dominate shipping, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. However, Bloomberg reports that for the US to compete with China in shipping, there’s a long road ahead. Chinese shipbuilding orders recently stood at 250 million deadweight tons (DWT), compared to just 200,000 tons for the US, according to Clarkson Research Services Ltd. The article outlines specific fees and exemptions affecting various categories of ships and discusses their potential impact on global shipping and trade.