U.S. Port Fee Updates

Just weeks ago, we were asking, “Will the U.S. really impose port fees targeting Chinese-built ships and operators?” Now we have our answer… and it’s a yes.

The Office of the USTR issued a sweeping action under Section 301 aimed at China’s dominance of the maritime sector. The action will affect everyone who moves product internationally, regardless of whether they import product on Chinese built ships.

The bottom line:

• Phased service fees are coming for:
  
   
  • Operators using Chinese-built ships
   
  • Chinese-owned or Chinese-operated vessels
   
  • Foreign-built vehicle carriers entering U.S. ports
 
• Tariffs are proposed for Chinese-made cargo equipment like:
  
   
  • Ship-to-shore cranes
   
  • Intermodal chassis
   
  • Shipping containers

While these measures are intended to promote the U.S. maritime industry and reduce reliance on China, it’s going to add significant cost and complexity to the global shipping ecosystem.

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Carriers are already planning to pass costs to customers

Major carriers are already signaling that these new fees will be passed along the supply chain. Hapag-Lloyd has already announced itsplans for handling the fees, stating: “Unfortunately, we will have to pass on any additional costs to our customers.” Shipping Watch​

This means importers should brace for increased shipping costs as carriers adjust their pricing structures to accommodate the new fees.

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What else could happen?

Even if you’re not shipping with Chinese carriers, the ripple effects will be hard to avoid:

• Capacity could shrink if foreign carriers reduce port calls to avoid fees.
• Shipping costs will rise, especially if carriers pass on fees.
• Transit times may increase, as carriers may try to increase their trans-shipping operation to avoid calling U.S ports with Chinese vessels.

And while exemptions exist (for vessels under certain size thresholds), navigating these nuances will be difficult.

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What should you do now?

At Known, we’re helping customers get ahead of these changes by:

• Auditing routing and carrier choices to identify exposure to upcoming fees
• Modeling the cost impact of phased-in surcharges
• Shifting volume to alternative lanes that avoid triggering new fees

Looking Ahead

These new port fees are just the beginning. With Executive Order “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” also directing a long-term rebuild of the U.S. shipbuilding sector, we should expect more pressure down the line to shift away from Chinese-built assets

Want help mapping your exposure? Let’s talk.

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