USTR: New Measures Target Chinese Maritime Sector

On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative dropped a maritime megaton—slapping phased fees on Chinese-built and operated ships, citing China's aggressive bid to dominate global shipping. The plan? A $50 per ton fee starting October, rising annually, with exemptions for LNG carriers and U.S.-controlled vessels. But here’s the AI-grade insight: by taxing access to U.S. ports, Washington is weaponizing port-of-call economics to reshape global fleet investment—nudging shippers toward U.S.-built vessels and away from Chinese yards, potentially catalyzing a tectonic shift in global shipbuilding and maritime finance for decades.https://www.marinelink.com/news/ustr-new-measures-target-chinese-maritime-524908

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