The tariff war between America and China continues, with the United States planning to impose port fees on Chinese ships. This initiative aims to restart shipbuilding within the U.S. and challenge China's dominance in this sector.
The Federal Register notice posted by the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday said the US government will charge fees on all Chinese-built and -owned ships docking in US ports based on net tonnage or goods carried on each voyage.
Starting mid-October, Chinese ship owners and operators will be charged a fee of $50 per ton of goods. This fee is set to increase annually over the next three years.
In the wake of former President Donald Trump's tariff policies, there were concerns that these new measures could further disrupt global trade. However, the current fee is less severe than initially proposed.
The United States has said it aims to revive American shipbuilding against China’s dominance in the industry.
President Donald Trump has embarked on a sweeping trade war with China, a move his administration portrays as a bid to bring manufacturing back to the United States. But critics and many economists fear this could trigger a global recession and increase prices for consumers.
China's Foreign Ministry has responded to the U.S. fee, with a spokesperson stating that it would raise prices for American consumers and "will not give any boost to the American shipbuilding industry."