China imposes extra port fees for US ships in tit-for-tat move

Vessels owned or operated by US firms and individuals or those built in the US or that fly the US flag - will be charged additional port fees per voyage starting on Oct 14, China’s Transport Ministry said.

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The fees are a countermeasure against upcoming US port fees on Chinese ships, the ministry said on Oct 10.

Also starting on Oct 14, ships built in China or operated or owned by Chinese entities will need to pay a fee at their first port of call in the US.

Fees could top US$1 million (S$1.3 million) for a ship carrying more than 10,000 containers, and could rise annually through 2028, according to analyst estimates.

Vessels owned or operated by a Chinese entity will face a flat fee of US$80 per net tonnage per voyage to the US.

The US fees on China-linked vessels, following a probe by the US Trade Representative, are part of a broader US effort to revive domestic shipbuilding and blunt China’s naval and commercial shipping power.