The Trump administration has announced a one-year suspension of port fees on China-linked vessels and will begin negotiations with China on shipbuilding and maritime logistics under the Section 301 framework.
Maersk is poised to order up to 12 LNG dual-fuel container ships worth $2.3 billion from China’s New Times Shipbuilding.
U.S. carrier Matson has paid $6.4 million in Chinese port fees since October before the 12-month U.S.-China tariff pause.
COSCO orders 29 new ships worth $1.7b amid U.S. port fee measures, expanding its green fleet and advancing China’s maritime goals.
Korea’s major shipbuilders posted strong Q3 2025 earnings, but rising container ship orders and Chinese price competition have raised profitability concerns.
China has imposed sanctions on Hanwha Ocean’s U.S. subsidiaries, but South Korea’s shipbuilding industry remains largely unaffected, emphasizing its resilience through high-value, technology-driven specialization.
China’s Ministry of Commerce sanctioned five U.S.-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean under the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, escalating tensions in shipbuilding and logistics.
China’s new Special Port Dues could affect over 3,000 U.S.-linked vessels worldwide, with costs reaching up to USD 2 million per port call, according to Clarksons Research.
China has revised its maritime regulations to counter new U.S. port fees targeting Chinese vessels, escalating tensions and adding uncertainty to global shipping.
