The Chinese government has confirmed it will begin charging "special port fees" on vessels with connections to the United States, a direct response to American trade actions. The Ministry of Transport announced the new policy on October 10, 2025, saying the fees will take effect on October 14 .
The ministry stated the move answers recent US measures that it says break global trade rules and the US-China Maritime Agreement. It said the American actions have caused major problems for sea trade between the two countries .
The new fees apply to a wide range of vessels. The list includes ships owned or run by US companies, groups, or people. It also covers ships where US entities hold a twenty-five percent or greater stake. Vessels flying the US flag and those constructed in American shipyards are also subject to the charges .
The cost for affected ships will be calculated per voyage, using the vessel's net tonnage. The fees will start at 400 Chinese Yuan (about 56 US dollars) for each net tonne. This rate is set to increase over the next three years .
By April 2026, the fee will rise to 640 Yuan (about 90 US dollars) per net tonne. It climbs to 880 Yuan (about 124 US dollars) in April 2027. The final scheduled increase in April 2028 will bring the fee to 1,120 Yuan (about 157 US dollars) per net tonne .
Chinese authorities clarified how the fees will be collected. The maritime agency at a ship's first port of call in China will be responsible for getting payment. If a ship visits several Chinese ports on a single trip, the fee is paid only once at the first port. The same vessel cannot be charged more than five times in one year .
China's decision follows the United States' own plan to charge fees on Chinese-linked ships. The US fees are scheduled to start on the same date, October 14, 2025 .
The US fee structure has two main parts. One part targets vessels that are Chinese-owned or operated. These ships will face a fee of 50 US dollars per net ton when arriving at American ports. Another part affects vessels built in China, even if they are not owned by Chinese companies. These ships will be charged the higher amount of either 18 US dollars per net ton or 120 US dollars per container they discharge .
The US rules also include several exemptions. For example, Chinese-built ships that are majority-owned by US entities are exempt. So are smaller container ships and bulk carriers, as well as voyages classified as short-sea shipping under 2,000 nautical miles. Ships arriving in the US without cargo are also exempt from the fee .
This tit-for-tat move on port fees happens within a larger and complex trade war. Both nations have placed heavy tariffs on each other's goods. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, as of mid-2025, the average US tariff on Chinese goods was 51.1 percent. China's average tariff on American goods was 32.6 percent .
The situation has been volatile. In May 2025, both sides agreed to a temporary truce, lowering some tariff rates for a 90-day period. This truce was later extended in August 2025 to avoid economic disruption during the holiday shopping season . Despite these talks, the underlying tensions have now spread to the critical maritime and logistics sectors.
The US originally considered much higher fees on Chinese-built vessels, with a proposal of a 3.5 million dollar charge per port call. After feedback from industries warning of higher consumer prices, the plan was changed to the current tiered model based on tonnage and containers . US officials stated the goal is to address what they see as China's targeted dominance in maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, and to help revive American shipbuilding .
Industry groups have expressed worry about the new fees from both nations. Critics caution that the costs will likely be passed along supply chains, potentially raising prices for consumers and affecting port traffic.