The US Trade Representative (USTR) has released its final guidance ahead of the implementation of new port fees, including adjustments aimed at addressing concerns raised by the shipping industry.
On October 10, the USTR sent a notification confirming that the new US port fees will commence as scheduled on October 14.
The US green light for port fees is expected to ripple through global markets, as China imposes reciprocal charges on vessels with 25% or more US ownership, set to take effect the same day.
The USTR finalized a US$46 per net ton fee on foreign-built vehicle carriers, effective October 14 — lower than the initial US$150 proposal but well above the revised US$14 rate floated in June.
The USTR is also scrapping a provision, retroactive to April 17, that allowed LNG export licenses to be suspended if foreign-built vessel restrictions weren't met. It also introduced a fee exemption for select ethane and LPG carriers operating under long-term charters.
"The modifications and proposed modifications announced today follow USTR requests for public comment made in Federal Register notices published on April 23, 2025 and June 12, 2025. They reflect USTR's consideration of public comments received in response to these notices, as well as consultations with petitioners and advisory committees," USTR said in the notice.
"Significant aspects of the modifications announced today include: changing the basis for calculating service fees on vessel operators of foreign-built vehicle carriers and setting the fee at US$46 per net ton, as of October 14, 2025; eliminating, retroactive to April 17, 2025, a provision permitting the suspension of liquid natural gas (LNG) export licenses if certain restrictions on the use of foreign-built vessels are not met; and imposing tariffs of 100% on certain ship-to-shore cranes and cargo handling equipment," it added.
The US announced in February a set of proposed port fees aimed at countering China’s growing dominance in global shipbuilding and revitalizing the American maritime industry. While the original measures were sweeping, they were later scaled back following strong industry pushback, with critics warning that the fees were overly punitive and could undermine the very shipbuilding revival they were meant to support. The final version, now moving forward, targets Chinese-built vessels and fleets with ships ordered from China that call at US ports.
The USTR is also proposing further modifications to the responsive action taken in April, including adding a carve-out from fees for certain ethane and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) carriers under long-term charter; and imposing additional tariffs of up to 150% on certain cargo handling equipment (e.g., rubber tire gantry cranes) and components of such equipment.
The USTR said while it evaluates public comments on these proposed further modifications, the payment of certain service fees may be deffered through December 10, 2025, as set in the notice.
The deadline to submit written comments on the proposed further modifications is November 12, 2025.
The USTR emphasised that the port fee programme may continually evolve and it "will continue to monitor the appropriateness of the actions being taken in the investigation, the effects of such action, and the effectiveness of the actions."
It could also decide on further modifications "based on a range of considerations, including vessel availability, economic impacts, international impacts and economic security, among others."
The USTR defended the new fee structure as a direct and justified outcome of its Section 301 investigation, asserting that "the service fee on vessel operators of foreign-built vehicle carriers was a logical outgrowth" of the investigation and "would be effective in obtaining the elimination of China’s acts, policies and practices."
Meanwhile, China has retaliated against US port fees by imposing its own levies on American-linked vessels, escalating maritime tensions between the two nations.
On October 14, China also began charging additional port fees on ships that are US-owned, operated, built, or flagged, mirroring the US’s new charges on Chinese-built and affiliated vessels. While Chinese-built ships are exempt from Beijing’s fees, the move signals a tit-for-tat escalation in the broader trade dispute.
Analysts note that the practical impact may be limited, less than 1% of vessels docking in China are US-flagged.