China Announces New Port Fees on US Ships, Sanctions
China is imposing new port fees on U.S. ships and placing sanctions on five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Marine Corporation in response to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Section 301 investigation of China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors (see 2506100023).
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Effective Oct. 14, China will collect "special port fees" for ships built in the U.S., flying a U.S. flag, or owned or operated by U.S. entities. The fees also will apply to vessels belonging to shipowners and operators if at least 25% of their voting rights or board seats are owned by a U.S. company. The fees will be collected "on a voyage basis" and will be implemented in stages, with a $50 fee per net ton beginning Oct. 14. That will increase to about $90 per net ton on April 17, 2026; about $123 per net ton on April 17, 2027; and about $156 per net ton on April 17, 2028.
"If a vessel calls at multiple Chinese ports on the same voyage, it shall pay the special port dues only at the first port of call and shall not be charged at subsequent ports of call," China said, according to an unofficial translation. "Special port dues may not be charged for more than five voyages of the same vessel in a year."
Beijing also imposed sanctions on Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC and HS USA Holdings Corp, which are U.S.-based divisions of their Korea-based parent company. The sanctions block Chinese people and companies from “engaging in relevant transactions, cooperation and other activities with them,” according to an unofficial translation.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said the U.S. Section 301 probe violates “international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.” It added that Hanwha Marine’s U.S. subsidiaries have “assisted and supported the US government's investigations, endangering my country's sovereignty, security, and development interests.”