US Customs & Border Protection to Impose New Fee Regime on China-Linked Vessels

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has been designated to collect a new fee regime targeting China-linked vessels, as authorised by a US Trade Representative ruling. The rules are structured for rollout starting October 14, 2025, and will apply to both Chinese-owned/operators and Chinese-built ships, with non-payment potentially blocking cargo operations and port clearance via imminent operational bans.

Under the finalised policy, Chinese-owned or operated vessels will be charged starting at $50 per net ton, escalating to $140 per ton by April 2028. Non-Chinese operators of Chinese-built ships face lower fees—starting at $18 per ton or $120 per container, rising to $33 per ton or $250 per container, whichever yields more.

The fees are assessed on a per-voyage (or rotation) basis, capped at five chargeable port rotations per vessel per year, and apply only at the first port of call. Exemptions are granted for short-sea shipping, vessels under size thresholds, U.S.-owned ships, ballast voyages, and specialized export carriers.

CBP has confirmed that a new Pay.gov payment portal is under development for remittances. Failure to pay the charged service fee will risk operational denial—from offloading cargo to port entry and exit clearance.

This implementation follows industry feedback and revisions to earlier April proposals that had envisaged multi-million-dollar flat fees per call on Chinese-built tankers. A scaled-back tiered structure emerged after objections over feasibility and trade impact.

Supporters of the controversial ruling argue the measure helps counter Chinese dominance in global shipping, elevate US maritime security, and fuel domestic shipbuilding. Critics—including the World Shipping Council and major car-makers—warn it could raise consumer prices and shrink trade volumes at smaller US ports.