China extends suspension of special port fees on US vessels
China has extended the suspension of special port fees on US-linked vessels calling at Chinese ports until January 10, 2027, following the eighth round of China–US economic and trade consultations.
The decision, announced by China’s Ministry of Transport on November 9 and approved by the State Council, also extends the suspension of an investigation into the impact on the country’s shipping, shipbuilding and related industrial supply chains.
The extension covers three regulatory measures introduced in October 2025, including the original special port fee announcement, its implementing rules and the investigation into the security and development interests of China’s maritime industries.
The measures remain suspended rather than permanently withdrawn, leaving their future implementation subject to subsequent policy decisions.
Background to the port fee dispute
China introduced the special port fees in October 2025 amid escalating trade tensions with the United States over maritime transport, logistics and shipbuilding.
The original framework covered vessels owned or operated by US entities, vessels associated with companies meeting specified US ownership thresholds, US-flagged vessels and ships built in the United States, subject to exemptions under the implementing regulations.
The fee structure initially provided for charges of RMB 400 per net tonne from October 14, 2025, rising to RMB 640 from April 17, 2026, with further increases scheduled for subsequent years.
However, implementation was suspended in November 2025 following earlier bilateral trade consultations. The latest announcement extends that suspension until January 2027.
The ministry’s decision also keeps on hold the investigation into the effects of US measures on China’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors, including their associated supply chains and industrial development interests.
Implications for maritime trade
The continued suspension removes the immediate application of China’s special port fee framework to affected vessels during the extended period, maintaining a more predictable regulatory environment for shipping companies operating services to Chinese ports.
For vessel operators, charterers and cargo interests, the extension provides additional time without the charges contemplated under the suspended regulations. It does not, however, amount to a permanent resolution of the wider maritime trade dispute.
The Chinese announcement does not provide details of any further commitments by the United States or specify whether the suspended measures will be amended, withdrawn or reinstated after January 10, 2027.
The development represents a further temporary easing of regulatory pressure on maritime trade between the two countries, while leaving the longer-term policy framework unresolved.
