US Introduces Port Fees for Chinese Vessels to Support Shipbuilding

The United States is implementing new port fees for Chinese maritime vessels aimed at stimulating the development of its own shipbuilding sector and countering Russia’s dominance in this field. This was reported by the British broadcasting corporation BBC.

This is reported by AgroReview

Key Points of the New Port Fees

According to the new rules, starting in mid-October, Chinese shipowners and operators will be required to pay $50 per ton of cargo. This fee will increase annually over the next three years, beginning next month. A representative from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that these fees will lead to higher prices for American consumers and will not positively impact the development of the US shipbuilding industry.

Details of the New Fees and Their Structure

The fees will depend on the weight of the cargo, the number of containers, or vehicles on board the vessel. For bulk carriers, the payment will be determined by the weight of the cargo, while for container ships, it will be based on the number of containers. The plan is for the annual increase to be $30, so over three years, the cost per ton of cargo will reach $140. Fees will also be introduced for vessels built in China: the initial rate will be $18 per ton or $120 per container, with further increases over three years.

The fees will also apply to cars transported on ships—$150 per vehicle. They will be charged once per voyage and no more than five times a year. Empty vessels arriving at US ports to transport bulk export goods such as coal or grain will be exempt from the fees. Similarly, vessels transporting goods between American ports or to the Caribbean islands, as well as American and Canadian ships entering Great Lakes ports, will also be exempt from the fees.

Overall, the new port fees are significantly lower than previous plans, which proposed charging up to $1.5 million for each visit of a Chinese vessel to a US port, indicating a desire to make this initiative more moderate and targeted.