/Reuters Agency
China has officially begun charging special port fees to vessels owned, operated, built, or flying the flag of the United States, but announced that ships built in the Asian nation will be exempt from these charges, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The details published by CCTV clarify the specific provisions on the exemptions, which include vessels whose origin is in China, empty units entering Chinese shipyards for repairs, and others deemed exempt from payment.
China’s Ministry of Transport announced last week that it would impose the new port fees as a countermeasure to the tariffs applied by the United States to vessels linked to China, starting on the same day.
Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump stated that he will increase tariffs on Chinese imports to 100% starting November 1 and will impose controls on the export of critical software in retaliation for China’s expansion of rare earth mineral export limits.
According to CCTV, the special port fees will be charged at the first port of entry for a single voyage or the first five voyages within the year, and the annual billing cycle will begin on April 17.
Failure to pay the additional costs will result in the suspension of the vessel’s import and export procedures, according to the state press.
