From October 14, 2025, the US will impose port duties on vessels owned or managed by Chinese companies, as well as on vessels constructed in China. These actions seriously violate the principles of international trade and the China-US maritime transport agreements, causing serious disruption to bilateral maritime trade, according to Beijing.
In response, China announced it will impose “special” port duties on American vessels arriving at its ports, in retaliation for similar measures announced by the US in April.
According to the Maritime Code of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant laws and basic international legal principles, and with the approval of the State Council, effective from October 14, 2025, China will impose reciprocal special port duties on:
American vessels berthing in China will have to pay 400 yuan (48 euros) per net ton. The amount will increase to 640 yuan (78 euros) from April, while it will increase every year until 2028.
These “special port duties” will apply once per trip to China and not for every Chinese port at which the vessel calls, while no more than five charges will be imposed annually, the ministry clarified.
This measure takes effect on the same day as the corresponding one adopted by the US authorities.
The US will impose additional port duties on vessels constructed in China or which are operated by Chinese companies and berth in the country.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Transport described Beijing’s decision as a “legitimate move to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese shipping companies”.
“We call on the United States to correct its actions without delay and end the unreasonable restrictions on China’s shipping industry,” they stated.
With information from APE-MPE
