The Trump administration has unveiled its plan to impose port fees on Chinese ships as it tries to reinstate shipbuilding in the United States and to dominate the Chinese industry.
The announcement of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is less tough than the project in February, charging up to $ 1.5 million ($ 1.1 million) for each US port to target Chinese ships.
It states that fees will start in 180 days and it will increase in the coming years.
There are concerns that these measures amid US President Donald Trump’s prices policies further disrupt global trade.
The USTR said in a statement, “China has achieved widespread its dominance goals, which has caused US companies, workers and the US economy to face severe backwardness.”
Fees on Chinese ship owners and operators built in China will carry their cargo weights, how many containers carry or the number of vehicles on the ship.
The affected bulk vessels, the fee will be based on the weight of their cargo, while the charge for the container ships depends on how many containers the vessel is carrying.
Under the steps, Chinese ship owners and operators will initially receive $ 50 per tonne cargo, which increases $ 30 tonnes per year in the next three years.
The fees on Chinese -made ships will start at $ 18 tonnes or $ 120 per container and grow in the next three years.
$ 150 per vehicle will be received from non -US -built ships carrying cars.
This fee will be implemented once per journey on the affected ships and not five times a year.
The USTR has also decided not to pay the fees on how many Chinese -made ships are in a fleet or based on the potential orders of the Chinese ships, as it actually suggested.
Empty utensils that arrive at American ports such as coal or cereals such as bulk exports are exempt.
Along with US ports, ships ranging from these ports to the Caribbean islands and US areas are also exempt from the rules, as we and the Canadian ships that call the ports in the great lakes.
The USTR said the second phase of the steps would begin in three years, in which US -built ships would be in favor of carrying liquid natural gas (LNG). These restrictions will increase in the next 22 years.
Experts say the announcement was made when Trump’s trade taxes are already affecting global trade.
A trading group said that the cargo is actually intended for ports from China to the United States, rather than going to European ports.
Businesses have warned that this will increase the prices of US consumers.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a tax of up to 145 % on imports from China. Other countries are facing a 10 % blanket until July.
Their administration said this week that when new rates are included in the current people, the tax on some Chinese goods could reach 245 %.
According to Marco Fafin, Director General of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, these prices have caused the “significant construction” of ships, especially in the European Union, but also in the ports of the UK.
He said more containers are coming to the UK.
“We have seen a lot of ships from China, which was to turn to the United States, to turn the UK and come to the UK and the European Union.”
In the first three months of 2025, Chinese imports to the UK increased by about 15 % and the European Union increased by about 12 %.
“This is a direct impact on President Trump’s actions,” he said.
In the first three months of the year, the president of the logistics firm Flex Port said that in the first three months of the year, the ports in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium were “stopping ports” in both rates and strikes.
The crowd in the UK is “severe in the Felix stove, especially in the Felix Stowe”, while the Continental in Europe is “very tight” in Rotterdam and Barcelona.
He said, “I am sure that if more cargo will be moving towards Europe, the search for new buyers, which will increase even more quantities, may be more crowded,” he said.
He said the ships are looking for new markets, but it can also increase goods in the United States to try to take advantage of this 90 -day window for some countries.
In the United States, consumers will pay taxes, but European consumers will not see “much effect,” he said.
He said companies would probably start re -designing their supply chain.
