US and China port fees shake up container shipping

Update: As of 30 October: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to end tit-for-tat levies on each other’s shipping industries, but there is no certainty yet as to when this will take effect.

Shippers are facing a fresh wave of market turbulence, blank sailings and push for General Rate Increases as carriers react to the introduction of new “special port service fees” by US and Chinese authorities.

Effective from 14 October, USTR-mandated charges start at $50 per net ton and ratchet up each year until 2028, adding direct and unavoidable costs for Chinese-owned/operated vessels.

Additional fees of $18 per net ton (or $120 per container) now apply to Chinese-built ships (not China operated), with further charges for vehicle carriers, all payable in advance to avoid the serious risk of port denial and costly delays.

These new US port fees are already filtering through as higher ocean freight costs and increased operational complexity. Carriers are responding by tightening capacity and accelerating General Rate Increases of up to $2,300 per TEU. Spot rates on key China–US trades have surged over 30% in the wake of recent changes.

Analysts expect further upward momentum as shippers seeking in-transit exemptions rush to secure bookings before a proposed 100% US import tariff is introduced in November, potentially lifting rates to $3,000 per FEU—even though market volumes may not fully support these price levels.

China’s response: limited disruption so far

China’s regulatory response, imposing retaliatory fees on US-operated ships (including those with at least 25% US ownership), has mostly left the global supply chain unaffected.

While major carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd rerouted US-flagged vessels to sidestep the fees, and Matson’s fleet faced direct charges, other lines operating under complex ownership structures (like CMA CGM’s APL) secured exemptions.

Despite expectations of a broader market backlash, operational disruptions have remained limited and the situation appears stable for now.

While retaliatory actions from China have produced only minor operational ripples so far, with the US administration considering further import tariff hikes from November, even more volatility could be on the horizon.

Our experts are monitoring the impact of port fees and working directly with carriers to secure capacity and contain costs for our customers. If you need support understanding the impact of these new regulatory hurdles or ensuring consistent supply chain performance, we’re here to keep your business resilient, whatever the market brings.