The US Trade Representative has proposed extending the suspension of port fees on China-linked vessels through 9 January 2027, giving affected shipping companies another two months without the charges, gCaptain reported. The existing pause expires on 9 November 2026, and the extension remains subject to final approval.
A Federal Register notice scheduled for publication on 26 October sets out a further suspension running from 10 November 2026. Operators would incur no port fee liability under Annexes I, II and III of the original Section 301 action during that period. The measures cover Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated and Chinese-built ships calling at US ports, alongside certain foreign-built vehicle carriers. The pause would also continue for specified duties on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment.
According to gCaptain, USTR said negotiations with Beijing were continuing with the aim of ending the practices examined in its investigation. Washington started collecting the fees on 14 October 2025 but halted them on 10 November following a broader trade agreement reached by President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Beijing also suspended its reciprocal charges on US-linked ships. The latest US notice does not say whether China will prolong that suspension.
The policy originated in a Section 301 investigation initiated under the Biden administration after a 2024 petition from the United Steelworkers and other labour organisations. The investigation found that Chinese industrial policies and subsidies distorted competition and harmed US commerce. Some lawmakers and maritime unions oppose keeping the fees on hold. In June, senators Mark Kelly and Elizabeth Warren called for their immediate restoration, questioning both the concessions obtained from Beijing and the loss of revenue intended to support US shipbuilding.
The charges had already created costs during their brief implementation. gCaptain reported that Matson incurred $6.4 million in reciprocal Chinese fees, while COSCO faced estimated annual US charges of $1.5 billion. The International Chamber of Shipping and World Shipping Council welcomed last year’s suspension, citing risks to transport costs and trade flows.
Separately, the administration’s Maritime Action Plan envisages charges on all foreign-built commercial vessels visiting US ports, with revenue supporting domestic shipbuilding through a proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund. That broader proposal is distinct from the China-specific measures. Public comments on the suspension extension are due through USTR’s portal by 5pm Eastern Time on 30 October, under docket USTR-2026-0694.