/ Xinhua
China’s measures against the additional port tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese vessels are “legitimate defense” actions aimed at maintaining a fair competition environment in the international shipping and shipbuilding markets, the Ministry of Commerce said.
“The U.S. measure is a typical unilateralist action of a seemingly discriminatory nature, which seriously harms the interests of Chinese enterprises,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
To safeguard the interests of domestic industries, Chinese authorities will levy special port tariffs on vessels with U.S. affiliations, including those flying the U.S. flag, built in the United States, or that are owned, controlled, or operated by U.S. companies, in accordance with China’s international maritime regulations.
“These countermeasures will take effect simultaneously with the U.S. additional port tariffs for Chinese vessels on October 14. China urges the U.S. side to correct its mistakes and work with China to find a solution through consultations and cooperation on an equal footing,” the spokesperson added.
