Trump Gets Tough: Ship Fees Aim to Curb China’s Maritime Dominance

This policy is a direct response to what U.S. officials say are unfair trade practices that have eroded domestic shipbuilding and threatened national economic security.

From Investigation to Action

This policy shift follows years of investigation, initiated under the Biden administration and carried forward by Trump.

The findings pointed to China’s strategic use of state subsidies and market manipulation, which have made it nearly impossible for American shipbuilders to compete on equal footing.

Today, China produces nearly 80% of the world’s commercial fleet—a figure expected to climb to 98%.

In response, the U.S. will begin imposing gradually increasing fees on Chinese-built vessels entering American ports, starting in October 2025 at $50 per net ton and reaching $140 per ton by 2028.

A Strategy of Incentives and Pressure

The new structure distinguishes between Chinese-owned ships and those merely built in China but operated by foreign carriers.

Chinese-owned vessels will face the highest fees, while others will pay lower rates. Importantly, the charges apply per vessel, up to five times a year—not per port, as originally proposed.

There’s also an incentive element. Shipowners can avoid the fees entirely by proving they’ve placed an order for a U.S.-built ship.

However, if the vessel isn’t delivered within three years, the charges will retroactively apply.

Industry Pushback Spurs Adjustments

The policy hasn’t gone unchallenged. At public hearings in March, more than 300 stakeholders voiced concern that the U.S. could be setting itself up for failure by waging an economic battle it isn’t prepared to win.

Critics cited the country’s limited shipbuilding capacity as a key weakness.

Exemptions and What Comes Next

The policy includes several exemptions. Ships carrying bulk goods like coal or grain, as well as empty vessels, will not be subject to the fees.

Neither will shipments to and from U.S. territories, or those operating in the Great Lakes or the Caribbean.

Further regulations are already on the horizon. In three years, a second phase will begin, targeting LNG (liquefied natural gas) vessels.

Restrictions on foreign LNG transport will be phased in gradually over a 22-year period.

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