China Begins Imposing Port Entry Fees on U.S. Vessels in Retaliatory Move

China has begun imposing port entry fees on U.S. vessels starting October 14, in response to the United States' decision to levy port entry fees on Chinese ships, according to reports from state-run China Central Television (CCTV) and other outlets.

The Chinese Ministry of Transport announced on this day the implementation of the "Special Port Entry Fee for U.S. Vessels."

Qingdao Port, Shandong Province, China. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

This measure applies port entry fees to vessels owned or operated by U.S. companies, organizations, or individuals, as well as vessels owned or operated by companies or organizations in which U.S. companies, organizations, or corporations hold a direct or indirect stake of 25% or more. Vessels flying the U.S. flag and vessels built in the United States are also subject to the fees.

Starting from this day, these vessels must pay 400 yuan (approximately 80,000 won) per net ton when docking at Chinese ports.

The fee will gradually increase to 640 yuan per net ton from April 17, 2026; to 880 yuan from April 17, 2027; and to 1,120 yuan from April 17, 2028.

However, vessels built in China, empty vessels entering Chinese shipyards for repairs, and other exempted vessels are not subject to the fee.

This measure is a response to the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) policy, announced in April, to impose port entry fees on vessels operating to and from China and on Chinese-built ships, which took effect on this day with the imposition of port service charges on Chinese vessels.

The Ministry of Transport stated that the USTR's action "seriously violates the basic principles of international trade and the China-U.S. maritime agreement, causing significant harm to maritime trade between the two countries." The ministry added, "The decision to impose a special port entry fee on U.S. vessels is a legitimate measure to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese industries and companies, as well as to ensure a fair competitive environment in international shipping."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.