China announced last Friday a special port service fee for vessels linked to the US, in response to the US' move to impose additional port service fees on vessels owned or operated by Chinese enterprises. The fee will take effect starting from tomorrow 14th October.
According to a notice released by China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) on Friday, China will impose, in accordance with laws and regulations, a special port service fee on vessels linked to the US, including those owned or operated by US entities or individuals, those with 25 percent or more US ownership or control, those flying the US flag, and those built in the US.
Moreover, if a vessel calls at multiple Chinese ports on the same voyage, the special port service fee will only be charged at the first port of call, and subsequent ports will not charge the fee. For the same vessel, the fee will not be charged for more than five voyages within one year, according to the notice.
The maritime authority at the port of call will collect the fee, the MOT said on Friday's notice.
For the corresponding vessels, a special port service fee will be charged per voyage in phases, according to the MOT. For vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting October 14, the fee will be 400 yuan ($56) per net ton; starting April 17, 2026, it will be 640 yuan per net ton; starting April 17, 2027, it will be 880 yuan per net ton; and starting April 17, 2028, it will be 1,120 yuan per net ton. For shipments of less than one net ton, the fee will be calculated as one net ton.
The decision was made in response to the measures announced by the Office of the US Trade Representative on April 17, which, starting October 14, will impose additional port service fees on vessels owned or operated by Chinese enterprises, Chinese-flagged vessels, and vessels built in China. Such actions seriously violate the principles of international trade and the maritime agreement between China and the US, causing significant disruption to bilateral maritime trade, said the MOT.
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