/Reuters Agency
The tanker operator DHT Holdings stated that its fleet is not included within the scope of China’s new special port tariffs, which are aimed at vessels linked to the United States.
The Asian country has imposed tariffs on US vessels visiting its ports, effective October 14, as a countermeasure to the North American nation’s port tariffs on units linked to China.
China’s measure is aimed at vessels built, registered, or operated by the United States, as well as companies in which investment funds domiciled in the US own 25% or more of their shares or seats on the board of directors.
DHT stated that “each vessel in the company’s fleet is directly owned by a non-US entity, was built in a jurisdiction outside the United States, does not fly the US flag, and is operated by management companies in Monaco, Norway, Singapore, and India.”
Furthermore, it indicated that US citizens represent only 20% of the composition of the company’s board of directors.
DHT added that it has no knowledge of shareholders from the North American country or reporting groups controlling 25% or more of DHT’s shares or voting rights.
However, the company warned that it cannot accurately verify the ownership of each individual shareholder.
