According to Yonhap News Agency, on July 6 local time, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) reported that the South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries submitted comments on April 4, requesting the U.S. to exclude South Korea from the list of countries subject to port fees for foreign car carrier vessels.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office website shows that the South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries submitted the comments.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office published a Federal Register on April 17, stating that all ships built in China and owned by Chinese entities will be charged fees based on the quantity of cargo they carry, regardless of whether they dock at U.S. ports. The relevant fee measures will be implemented after 180 days, in two stages. According to the fee details published in the notice, in the first stage, starting from October 14 this year, the U.S. will charge a so-called "maritime service fee" of $50 per net ton for any vessel operated by a Chinese operator or owned by a Chinese entity. This amount will increase by $30 annually over three years, reaching $140 per net ton in 2028.

Yonhap News Agency pointed out that the above measures by the U.S. government aim to curb China's shipbuilding and shipping industry to revitalize its own manufacturing sector. However, the car carrier port fees will apply to all foreign vessels, not just those from China. This means that logistics costs for South Korean companies exporting cars to the United States, such as Hyundai and Kia, as well as Hyundai Motor Group's logistics subsidiary Hyundai Glovis, may increase.

In the comments, the South Korean government stated that the port fees for car carriers may impose a severe burden on the relevant industries in South Korea and the United States, contradicting the principle of mutual benefit in bilateral trade relations. The South Korean side requested the U.S. to adhere to the original purpose of the measures, clearly define the scope of application of the additional port fees for car carriers, and limit the charging targets to the countries originally intended.

Yonhap News Agency said that analysts believe, although the South Korean government did not directly mention China, this statement can be interpreted as a request for the U.S. to limit the charging of port fees to Chinese enterprises and Chinese-built ships.

In addition, the South Korean government also requested the U.S. to set a limit on the number of times car carriers enter the U.S. each year.

The South Korean government emphasized that Hyundai, Kia, and other South Korean automakers have thoroughly implemented the investment plans they had pledged to the U.S. during Trump's first term, and further announced an investment plan worth $21 billion during Trump's second term. Considering that the U.S. has already imposed separate tariffs on imported cars and parts, the port fees for car carriers would add a double burden to export-oriented car manufacturers.

The South Korean government stated that if the U.S. adjusts the scope and intensity of the relevant measures, it could not only effectively address global unfair trade issues but also avoid unintended damage to the industrial ecosystems of allies.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524147550840980006/

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