The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released its planned port fees on Chinese-built or operated ships entering U.S. ports, to begin in 180 days, reports BBC News.
The fees are less severe than a plan floated by President Donald Trump in February, when he threated charges of up to $1.5 million for each American port they visit. Instead the fees, which will come into force October 14, will be based on cargo volumes. For bulk vessels, the fee will be based on the weight of their cargo, while the charge for container ships will depend on how many containers a vessel is carrying. For car carriers, it will depend on the number of vehicles onboard.
The USTR said in statement April 17 that the move comes after a year-long investigation, which included USTR convening a two-day public hearing, receiving nearly 600 public comments, and consulting with government agency experts and USTR cleared advisors. The stated goal is to “restore American shipbuilding and address China’s unreasonable acts, policies, and practices to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.”
