China rejected U.S. claims that inspections of Panama-flagged ships amount to maritime coercion, saying the checks follow international rules and reflect vessel safety incidents.
The Suez Canal Authority ended its 15% transit fee discount for large containerships from 7 April 2026 as limited uptake and wider Middle East shipping disruption continued to weigh on canal traffic.
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.
The Port of Los Angeles recorded only one China-built vessel call during the week of October 12–18, following the implementation of new USTR fees targeting Chinese-owned and built ships.
The United States has expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s oil export network, adding Chinese-linked import terminals and shipping operators to its blacklist.
China continues to dominate global shipbuilding despite new U.S. port fees, according to a CSIS report. The analysis highlights that Chinese shipyards account for over half of new vessel orders in 2025, underscoring Beijing’s resilience against Washington’s trade measures.
UNCTAD warns that maritime trade growth will nearly stall in 2025, with disruptions in the Suez Canal and Red Sea driving higher costs, fragile supply chains, and long-term structural risks.
