ShippingTelegraph: US senators urge Trump admin to reinstate port fees on Chinese ships

Published by ShippingTelegraph

U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) urged United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reinstate the Trade Act of 1974’s section 301 port fees on Chinese ships. 

In a letter to Greer, the senators urged the Administration to reinstate the fees and restrictions on Chinese ships entering U.S. ports, commit to keeping them in place, explain how the pause on fees is affecting American workers, and reveal whether the Trump administration secured any meaningful concessions from China for pausing the fees and restrictions.

“Section 301 port fees are critical to revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding,” the senators wrote. “Presidents of both parties have long recognized the serious threat that Chinese shipbuilding dominance poses to the United States, and…[these] fees and restrictions on Chinese vessels would have protected American shipbuilding businesses and workers.”

According to the letter, China produced less than five per cent of the world’s commercial ships in 2000. Last year, Chinese ships accounted for more than half of commercial ships produced worldwide. At the same time, U.S. shipyard production accounted for only 0.1% of global production.

They noted that presidents of both parties have acted to counter Chinese shipbuilding dominance, investigating China’s targeting of maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding.

A Biden-era probe led to proposals for fees on Chinese-owned and operated vessels, which reportedly contributed to a 23.5% drop in new orders at Chinese shipyards within nine months.

“Even the prospect of impending fees had a major impact. Within months of the announcement, orders at Chinese shipyards had dropped precipitously; orders were down 23.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025,” the letter said.

However, the senators criticised the Trump administration’s subsequent decision to suspend the fees and restrictions for one year amid broader trade negotiations with China.

“The dire consequences of this consolidation have only become more evident since President Trump launched his war in Iran. […] Without significant investment in domestic shipbuilding capacity, the U.S. will find itself in the same position in future global conflicts. A strong domestic shipping industry is essential for our national security, especially in moments of global conflict,” concluded the senators.