China issues special port fee regulations for US ships

Trung Quốc ban hành quy định thu phí cảng đặc biệt đối với tàu Mỹ

The document consists of 10 articles, specifically regulating the legal basis, collection scope, collection standards, collection units, toll-paying trains, toll payment requirements, information verification, handling of violations, flexible adjustments and interpreting agencies, and implementation time. The measure clearly states the types of ships exempted from toll payment, including: Ships built in China; ships entering China only for repairs, not carrying cargo; ships determined by competent authorities to be other exempted.

The regulation also requires shipowners or agents to report information to maritime authorities before the ship is scheduled to arrive at a Chinese port, and states that the scope, standards and collection time of fees will be flexibly adjusted depending on the actual situation.

China's Ministry of Transport affirmed that the implementation of the "special port fee for US ships" is a legitimate measure to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industries and enterprises, and maintain a fair competitive environment in the field of international maritime transport.

This measure was issued in the context of the US announcing on April 17, 2025 the results of the investigation under Section 301 on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries and declaring that from October 14, 2025, it will impose additional port service fees on ships owned, operated or built in China by Chinese enterprises, as well as on ships with Chinese nationality.

China said the US move seriously violated the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the China-US Maritime Agreement, and seriously damaged maritime trade between the two countries.

Source: https://vtv.vn/trung-quoc-ban-hanh-quy-dinh-thu-phi-cang-dac-biet-doi-voi-tau-my-10025101409445867.htm