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China Criticizes U.S. Over Proposed Port Fees on Chinese Vessels, Warns of Retaliation
China has strongly criticized a proposal by the Trump administration to impose port fees on Chinese-built and -owned vessels docking in the United States, warning that such measures could significantly disrupt global supply chains and heighten trade tensions.
Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the proposed levies as “detrimental to all parties,” stating they would increase global shipping costs and undermine the stability of international production and supply chains. “They will not succeed in revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” he added.
The Chinese government urged the United States to “respect facts and multilateral rules and immediately stop wrongful practices,” warning that China would “take necessary measures to defend its lawful rights and interests,” according to a statement cited by Reuters.
The proposal, outlined by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday, would apply fees to all Chinese-built or -owned ships docking at American ports, calculated based on the volume of goods carried. The policy stems from an earlier investigation initiated during the Biden administration to assess whether China’s shipbuilding sector poses a threat to U.S. national security.
Although an earlier version of the proposal suggested fees of up to $1.5 million per port call, a more recent notice published in the Federal Register has revised the scale of the proposed levies. Nonetheless, the potential imposition of such fees has unsettled the global shipping industry and reignited concerns over the escalating U.S.-China trade dispute.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the policy, stating, “Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce. The Trump administration’s actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the U.S. supply chain, and send a demand signal for U.S.-built ships.”
Despite rising tensions, former President Donald Trump indicated that dialogue between the two countries is ongoing. “Yeah, we’re talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times,” he told AFP, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached to ease trade frictions between the world’s two largest economies.
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