The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued detailed guidance on the implementation of new port fees targeting China-linked vessels, set to take effect next week.
In a notice released over the weekend, the agency clarified that vessel operators — not U.S. Customs — will bear full responsibility for determining and paying applicable charges. Ships unable to provide proof of payment may be denied unloading, port clearance, or operational access until all documentation is verified.
Payments must be made through a U.S. Treasury portal, and Customs has advised ship operators to complete transactions at least three days before arrival at any U.S. port.
The new fee structure includes three pricing tiers:
- Annex 1: $50 per net ton for ships owned or operated by Chinese entities.
- Annex 2: For Chinese-built vessels, operators will pay the higher of $18 per net ton or $120 per container discharged.
- Annex 3: Applies to all non-U.S.-built vehicle carriers, not limited to China, at $14 per net ton.
Some exemptions apply — notably, LNG carriers are excluded from the new fees.
Operators will use the online Section 301 Fee Payment Form, which requires the entry of vessel and ownership details before automatically calculating the applicable charge.
Meanwhile, Beijing has vowed to retaliate. Chinese Premier Li Qiang recently signed a State Council decree authorizing countermeasures against nations or regions that impose what China deems discriminatory restrictions or penalties on its shipping operators, vessels, or crew engaged in international maritime trade.
