Source: Global Times
[Global Times Report] According to an exclusive report by Reuters on the 8th, six sources said that after receiving a large amount of negative feedback and opposition from the industry, the U.S. Trump administration is considering easing the "berthing fee" proposed for Chinese ships entering American ports.
The report cited anonymous sources as saying that the adjustments being considered by the U.S. government include delaying the implementation of the plan and developing a new charging structure, with the aim of reducing the total cost burden on fleets docking at U.S. ports.
On April 2nd, a port in Staten Island, New York, USA. Photo source: foreign media report illustration
Reuters mentioned that the sources said that another option being considered by the U.S. is to adjust the fee amount based on the proportion of vessels manufactured in China in the company's fleet. This means that companies with fewer vessels made in China will pay lower fees. Additionally, the U.S. is also considering charging based on vessel tonnage instead of a flat fee.
The report stated that the White House and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which participated in drafting the proposal for the aforementioned plan, did not respond to requests for comment.
On February 21, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) proposed a plan targeting China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, proposing high fees for Chinese-made ships and Chinese shipping operators entering U.S. ports. According to Clarkson Research, a research institute specializing in the shipping industry, if a ship is built in China, operated by a Chinese shipping company, and the company has also ordered ships from Chinese shipyards, then each time it docks at a U.S. port, the cumulative cost could reach up to $3.5 million. In addition, data from the World Shipping Council (WSC) shows that once the "berthing fee" is implemented, it will quickly cover about 98% of the global fleet. In March, the USTR held a hearing on the "berthing fee" proposal, with over 300 trade associations and other stakeholders submitting comments and testimonies opposing these fees.
"The U.S. protectionist agenda has reached its peak through the plan to impose berthing fees on Chinese ships," reported Le Monde on April 1st. To revive its shipbuilding industry, the U.S. government is drafting a "berthing fee" for ships docking at U.S. ports, which will cause chaos in global maritime logistics and severely disrupt international import and export trade. Several industry insiders previously told the Global Times that once the fee is charged, it will first affect relevant industry practitioners and consumers in the U.S., and then it will also be transmitted worldwide, accelerating the formation of a global shipping cost transfer chain. A Greek shipping expert直言that所谓的“泊位费”从根本上来说就是“另一种形式的关税”, which will ultimately be paid by U.S. consumers.
In the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on March 10th this year, a journalist asked about the U.S. consideration to charge port fees for fleets containing ships made in China or flying the Chinese flag. In response, spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the measures of levying port fees and imposing tariffs on cargo handling equipment are harmful to both parties, driving up global shipping costs, disrupting the stability of the global supply chain, increasing inflationary pressures within the U.S., harming U.S. consumers and businesses, and ultimately failing to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. We urge the U.S. to respect facts and multilateral rules and immediately stop erroneous practices. China will take necessary measures to defend its own legitimate rights and interests.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491148169078653481/
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