Trump Announces New Tariffs on Chinese Vessels as Trade Tensions Escalate

The US administration has unveiled plans to impose significant tariffs on Chinese vessels entering American ports, marking a substantial escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. The measures, set to take effect in six months, will require all Chinese-built and owned vessels to pay fees calculated on the net tonnage of cargo for each US-bound journey.

The sweeping policy announcement, delivered by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, stems from a year-long investigation initiated under the Biden administration examining potential national security threats posed by Chinese dominance in shipbuilding. The programme will expand in three years to include restrictions on foreign vessels transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), specifically favouring US-built LNG carriers.

The implementation represents a modified version of earlier proposals, which had suggested fixed fees of up to $1.5 million per vessel per port call. The revised structure bases charges on cargo volume and voyage frequency. Notable exemptions include vessels operating between domestic ports, those serving Caribbean islands and US territories, and American and Canadian ships utilising Great Lakes ports.

Recent shipping data has revealed potential retaliatory measures from Beijing, with China appearing to have halted American LNG imports over the past ten weeks. The last recorded delivery was a 69,000-tonne LNG tanker arriving from Corpus Christi, Texas, on 6 February.

Trade analysts suggest these developments could significantly impact global shipping routes and potentially trigger increased operational costs across international supply chains. The measures align with the broader US strategy to challenge Chinese maritime dominance while promoting domestic shipbuilding capabilities.