New port fees on Chinese vessels: The U.S. is turning China’s shipbuilding edge into a strategic vulnerability

On October 14, 2025, China imposed special fees on vessels owned, operated, built, or flying under the US flag. The US imposed similar fees on vessels associated with China.

This is a new stage in the trade war, shifting the confrontation between the US and China from the tariff field to the sphere of logistics and maritime transport—a critical artery of the global economy.

For the US, these measures have a strategic nature: Washington is increasing the transportation costs for Chinese companies, reducing their efficiency and ability to maintain China's economic stability during a period of prolonged geopolitical pressure.

The Chinese corporation COSCO, which holds one of the largest shares in the global container market, becomes the central target of these fees.