Port fees for Chinese built ships are coming
- David Carr
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
The USTR released their proposed schedule for port fees for Chinese built vessels as well as suggestions for section 301 tariffs on Chinese made cargo cranes and cargo moving equipment. The equipment and crane tariffs are yet to be determined the recommendation is between 20 and 100%. Since this is just a proposal, there is a public comment period which is open now. If you have a question or concern about not just port fees but the cargo equipment 301 tariffs, you have here. Look for the section titled As for the fees for Chinese ships, the following are the listings for Chinese owned/operated ships versus other carrier owned:
Service Fee for Chinese owned and operated vessels:
Effective as of April 17, 2025, a fee in the amount of $0 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
Effective as of October 14, 2025, a fee in the amount of $50 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
Effective as of April 17, 2026, a fee in the amount of $80 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
Effective as of April 17, 2027, a fee in the amount of $110 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
Effective as of April 17, 2028, a fee in the amount of $140 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
Service Fee for non-Chinese owned Chinese built vessels:
Effective as of: April 17, 2025, a fee in the amount of $0 for each container discharged.
Effective as of October 14, 2025, a fee in the amount of $18 per net ton or $120 per container, whichever is higher.
Effective as of April 17, 2026, a fee in the amount of $23 per net ton or $153 per container, whichever is higher.
Effective as of April 17, 2027, a fee in the amount of $28 per net ton or $195 per container, whichever is higher.
Effective as of April 17, 2028, a fee in the amount of $33 per net ton or $250 per container, whichever is higher.
Service fee for foreign built car carrier vessels:
Effective as of April 17, 2025, a fee of $0 on the entering non-US built vessel
Effective as of October 14, 2025, a fee of $150 per CEU capacity of the entering non-US built vessel.
For all vessels, regardless of whether or not they are Chinese owned the fee is once per voyage and will only be levied 5 times per year per vessel. Carriers will pass these fees on to those who book containers on their vessels so be sure to check with your carrier for information about their vessels. Some carriers already have sales reps sending information about their regional fleets and potential fees. You may need to be proactive with your carrier or they may be working on or have already released information to you. Please pay attention to the information they provide and ask about fees.
There are also some methods in which non-Chinese carriers can exempt themselves from the port fees:
Fees can be exempted for up to 3 years if a carrier can prove to the US government that the carrier has ordered a US built ship. The vessel must be of an equivalent tonnage and the amount of time the fee is reduced is the amount of time it takes the US vessel to be delivered to the carrier or 3 years, whichever is less.
Fees will not be assessed on bulk carriers (i.e. grain, coal, etc)
Fees will not be assessed on empty vessels arriving in a port
Fees will not be assessed to a vessel traveling less than 2000 nautical miles from foreign port to US port
Fees will not be assessed on US owned or flagged vessels as well as vessels owned by an entity that has at least 75% US ownership.
Additionally, for those who are in the Liquid Natural Gas business, LNG exporting has a US vessel phase in. The rules are as follows:
From April 17, 2025, to April 16, 2026: no restrictions.
From April 17, 2026, to April 16, 2027: no restrictions.
From April 17, 2027, to April 16, 2028: no restrictions.
From April 17, 2028, to April 16, 2029: one percent on U.S.-flagged and U.S.- operated vessels. For every subsequent year, the following percentages are exported by U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-operated vessels
From April 17, 2029, to April 16, 2030: one percent.
From April 17, 2030, to April 16, 2031: one percent.
From April 17, 2031, to April 16, 2032: two percent.
From April 17, 2032, to April 16, 2033: three percent.
From April 17, 2033, to April 16, 2034: three percent.
From April 17, 2034, to April 16, 2035: four percent.
From April 17, 2035, to April 16, 2036: four percent.
From April 17, 2036, to April 16, 2037: six percent.
From April 17, 2037, to April 16, 2038: six percent.
From April 17, 2038, to April 16, 2039: seven percent.
From April 17, 2039, to April 16, 2040: seven percent.
From April 17, 2040, to April 16, 2041: seven percent.
From April 17, 2041, to April 16, 2042: nine percent.
From April 17, 2042, to April 16, 2043: nine percent.
From April 17, 2043, to April 16, 2044: eleven percent.
From April 17, 2044, to April 16, 2045: eleven percent.
From April 17, 2045, to April 16, 2046: thirteen percent.
From April 17, 2046, to April 16, 2047: thirteen percent.
From April 17, 2047: fifteen percent.
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