China News Service, October 10th. According to the Ministry of Commerce website, the Ministry of Commerce spokesperson answered a reporter’s question on the 10th regarding China’s announcement of countermeasures against the US Section 301 investigation restrictions on China’s shipbuilding and other industries.
Reporter’s question: We have noticed that the Ministry of Transport and others have issued an announcement regarding countermeasures against the US Section 301 investigation restrictions on China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. Can you provide relevant details?
The spokesperson said: On April 17th, US Eastern Time, the US Trade Representative announced the final measures for the Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. Among them, the measure to impose port fees on relevant Chinese vessels will be formally implemented on October 14th. The US measures are typical unilateral acts with obvious discriminatory overtones, severely harming the interests of Chinese enterprises. China is strongly dissatisfied with this and has repeatedly stated its firm opposition.
To safeguard the interests of domestic related industries, relevant Chinese authorities, in accordance with the “International Maritime Transportation Regulations of the People’s Republic of China” and other relevant provisions, will impose special port dues on vessels involving US elements, such as those flying the US flag, built in the US, or owned, participated in, or operated by US companies. The aforementioned measures will be formally implemented simultaneously with the US measures imposing port fees on relevant Chinese vessels on October 14th.
China emphasizes that the relevant countermeasures aim to maintain a fair competition environment in the international shipping and shipbuilding markets and are acts of “legitimate defense.” It is hoped that the US will carefully consider, correct its wrong practices, move in the same direction as China, and find a way to resolve the issue through equal consultation and cooperation.
