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Global Shipping Adjusts Course Ahead of New U.S. China-Linked Port Fees
the world’s third-largest container shipping company, France’s CMA CGM, has announce to its customers it is ready for the increased port fees in the US for China-linked vessels next month and it will not be charging extra fees because of the new rules.
Back in April, the US Trade Representative announced plans to start charging extra fees on China-linked vessels that enter the US ports from October 14th, this movement’s purpose is to reduce China’s influence in sea transportation and support U.S. shipyard capabilities. The final rules have not been published yet, and the fee collection system is still under operation.
CMA CGM claimed they have been reorganizing their fleet to get ready for the new ruling, informing customers:” Despite the challenges this new service fee may create for our operations, based on the current structure and applicability of the service fee, CMA CGM does not plan to implement a surcharge at this time to cover USTR-related fees as currently structured.”
COSCO and OOCL that are CMA CGM’S partners in the ocean association, could face more obstacles from October 14th as HSBC’s analysts said that the two Chinese carriers might end up paying over $2.1 billion in 2026 due to these new fees for China-linked vessels.
Meanwhile, Maersk which is another major shipping company, has claimed it will try not to put China-linked vessels on to the US trade and they expect other companies to do the same.
The new fees have already affected global sea transportation and choice of routes and vessels. China-linked vessels are being sent to other parts of the world, not just in container shipping but also in oil tanker and dry bulk shipping.
