U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a directive that, effective October 14, 2025, it will collect an additional fee on certain vessels owned or constructed in China, as well as on all foreign-built car carriers. This action implements the port fee measures outlined in the USTR’s final ruling on China’s maritime industries.

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced proposed tariffs of 100% to 150% on certain Chinese-made ship-to-shore cranes and other cargo handling equipment under its Section 301 investigation. In a swift retaliatory move, China announced a new “Special Port Service Fee” on eligible U.S.-flagged vessels arriving at Chinese ports, effective October 14, 2025.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) downgraded its forecast for global merchandise trade volume growth in 2026 from 2.5% to 1.8%. The report explicitly warns that recent tariff actions, such as the United States’ high “reciprocal tariffs,” are negatively impacting the trade outlook and creating significant uncertainty for businesses and logistics planners.

Industry analysts reported that the “front-loading” of shipments by shippers in the first half of 2025, driven by fears of impending higher tariffs, may have artificially inflated demand. As this “tariff rush” effect diminishes, a significant correction in freight rates, particularly on key Trans-Pacific routes, is expected in the second half of the year.

Following the USTR’s final determination on China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, detailed implementation rules were published. Major industry groups, including the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), issued strong warnings that tariffs on cranes and other equipment would impose massive costs on ports, with shipping lines likely to pass 100% of the new fees directly to cargo owners.

During a public hearing held by the USTR, a U.S. government interagency panel formally dismissed extensive objections from port operators, shipping lines, and importers against proposed tariffs on Chinese-made cranes and containers. The decision solidified the path for these tariffs to move forward, raising widespread concern over supply chain cost inflation.

The USTR published the final measures from its Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime sectors. The core action is a phased imposition of new “Port Usage Fees” on Chinese-owned or operated vessels and vessels constructed in China calling at U.S. ports. The ruling also includes restrictions on LNG vessel calls.

As part of the initial announcement of the maritime 301 measures, the USTR released a list of proposed tariffs. This included a recommendation to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese-made ship-to-shore cranes and duties ranging from 20% to 100% on intermodal containers, chassis, and other logistics equipment. This proposal laid the groundwork for the October 2025 policy.

Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, officially transitioned to a 12-digit Harmonized System (HS) code for customs classification. This change aims to increase the precision of tariff application and requires importers/exporters to update their systems to ensure compliant declarations.