As of October 14, 2025, U.S. trade policy will implement a new port fee for Chinese-owned, operated, or built vessels. The proposed fee structure is reportedly linked to China’s dominant role in global maritime trade.

According to a report by splash247, consultancy Alphaliner assessed that the top ten container carriers could face a combined total of $3.2 billion in port fees in 2026, based on current fleet deployment patterns to the U.S.

Given their significant presence in the Trans-Pacific trade, COSCO Shipping and its subsidiary OOCL could incur approximately $1.53 billion in annual U.S. port fees in 2026. The carrier acknowledged in a September customer advisory that the fees could pose “operational challenges”, but pledged to maintain service quality in its U.S. offerings.

Meanwhile, Alphaliner indicated in a March post on X that more than half of the container vessels serving U.S. ports were built in South Korea (54.5%), followed by China (20.9%) and Japan (12.3%).

More recently, Chinese authorities have taken steps to protect domestic shipping interests. According to the official English-language website of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Premier Li Qiang has signed a decree revising rules on international maritime transport. The decree states, “China will take necessary countermeasures against countries or regions that impose or support discriminatory bans, restrictions, or similar measures targeting Chinese operators, vessels, or crew engaged in international maritime transport and related services.”

Meanwhile, Chinese shipping companies have been exploring mitigation strategies. As reported by gCaptain, these include leveraging partnerships with non-Chinese carriers through alliances, rerouting cargo via transshipment hubs in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, and delaying the retirement of older vessels built outside China. Non-Chinese operators have also adjusted fleet deployment, shifting Chinese-built vessels to trade lanes that do not involve U.S. ports.

Source: splash247, Alphaliner, COSCO, State Council of the People’s Republic of China, gCaptain