Email
Linkedin
Facebook
X
Copy Link
Loading...
Timely insights from the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has revealed plans to impose port fees on Chinese owned or operated vessels, and Chinese-built ships. These fees will begin on October 14, 2025, and increase incrementally over a three-year period until April 17, 2028.
Fees will escalate: The initial charge will be $50 per ton of cargo. The fee will then escalate by $30 per year over three years. Besides weight, levies can also be determined by how many containers are carried or the number of automobiles that are on board a ship. Non-US built ships moving vehicles will be charged $150 per automobile.
In addition, a second phase of action will commence in 2028 restricting some transport of liquified natural gas (LNG) via foreign vessels. These are scaled back from the original proposed fees, which were estimated to be up to $1.5 million for each Chinese ship docking in a US port.
Parallel proposal for port equipment: USTR is also seeking comment on proposed 100% tariffs on US imports of ship-to-shore cranes and other port equipment that are manufactured in China or with Chinese components. These would be largely paid by US port developers and operators. (Public comment is due May 19, 2025.)
myTCB® Members get exclusive access to webcasts, publications, data and analysis, plus discounts to events.
July CPI data showed that tariffs continued to creep into data
August 12, 2025
Consumers Stick to Necessities amid Rising Prices
July 31, 2025
Q2 GDP Shows Sizable Slowing Beyond Trade Fog
July 30, 2025
Retail Sales Show Consumer Resilience amid Tariffs
July 17, 2025
A Tale of Two CPIs: Goods Inflation Dwarfed by Services
July 15, 2025
Charts
The proliferation of easy-to-use generative AI requires that policymakers and business leaders each play an important role.
LEARN MORE
Charts
A hyperpolarized environment, diminished trust in our nation’s leaders.
LEARN MORE
IN THE NEWS
Denise Dahlhoff on How CEOs Are Talking About Tariffs—without Saying “Tarif…
May 21, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on Tariff Policy
April 07, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on Reshoring Factors
April 05, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on US Reshoring
April 02, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin: How policy uncertainty may exacerbate infrastructure chall…
March 19, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin discusses the latest on tariff policy
March 14, 2025
