In March 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed significant service fees on Chinese maritime carriers and operators using Chinese-built vessels. These measures come under a Section 301 investigation targeting China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.
Key Points of the Proposed Action:
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Direct Fees on Chinese Carriers: Up to $1 million per U.S. port call or $1,000 per net ton of vessel capacity.
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Fees Based on Fleet Composition: Carriers operating Chinese-built ships may be charged up to $1.5 million per port call, depending on the percentage of Chinese-built vessels in their fleets.
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Fees on Future Chinese Ship Orders: Carriers placing new orders with Chinese shipyards may face additional port call fees of up to $1 million based on order volume.
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Incentives for Using U.S.-Built Vessels: Carriers using U.S.-built ships may qualify for fee refunds up to $1 million per port call.
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Mandatory Use of U.S. Vessels for Exporting U.S. Goods:
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Starting with 1% of exports in year one, ramping up to 15% over seven years.
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Increasing portions of these exports must use U.S.-flagged and U.S.-built vessels.
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The USTR invites written public comments by March 24, 2025, and will host a public hearing at the U.S. International Trade Commission on the same date.
