US Port Operators, Shippers Call on Trump to Scuttle Proposed China Port Fees

President Donald Trump’s April 9 Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance executive actions package is drawing praise from the United States’ $2.1 trillion ports industry, but also generating anxiety over his proposed plan to impose “port fees” of up to $3.5 million on “China-linked” commercial carriers as soon as April 17. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative proposed levying multimillion-dollar fees in February after an investigation determined China’s maritime industry violates the 1974 Trade Act with “acts, policies, and practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.” Under the tentative proposal, ships operated by Chinese companies would be assessed $1 million, ships built in China would pay $1.5 million per port call, and shipping lines with more than 50 percent of new vessels being built in China would incur a $1 million fee for every port visit....