ECG — 2025-04-24
News from ECG
On 17 April 2025 the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released a wave of fees following its investigation under Section 301 whereby maritime vessels owned or operated by Chinese owners or Chinese built vessels are all subject to penalties. In addition, all Car Carrier vessels produced in countries outside the USA are also subject to the fees.
The ‘service fees’ target all vessel types including Container vessels, Car carriers and those transporting LNG, as well as Ship-to-Shore cranes and cargo handling equipment.
In addition the ‘service fees’ are based on NT—net tonne and CEU-Car Equivalent unit depending on the type of vessel.
For the purposes of this analysis, ECG’s Business Intelligence service has divided the analysis into 5 parts.
Part 1: Phased fee on Chinese vessel operators and vessel owners
Effective from 17 April 2025, a fee of USD $0 is in place on all vessels owned or operated by a citizen or entity of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macau. From 14 October, the fee increased to USD $ 50 per net ton for the vessel arriving at a US port. The fees rise incrementally over the next 3 years to reach USD $ 140 per ton effective from April 17, 2028.
Part 2: Phased fee on Chinese Built Vessels
Effective from 17 April 2025, with the USD $0 in place per net ton of arriving vessel, this increases to USD$ 18 per net ton from 14 October 2025, rising incrementally to USD$33 per net ton from 17 April 2028.
For vessels carrying containers, the fee of USD$0 per container discharged is in place from 17 April 2025, rising to USD$ 120 per container discharged from 14 October 2025. This increases incrementally to reach USD$ 250 per container discharged from 17 April 2028.
The fees can be charged up to 5 times per year, per vessel.
However there are exclusions. In order to gain remission of the fees, the vessel operator can place an order for a US built vessel of equivalent size to be produced within the next 3 years.
Part 3: Fee on Vehicle Carriers (eg PCTC)
Effective from 17 April 2025 with the token USD$ 0 fee, vehicle carriers of Chinese or other Foreign Built are subject to fees. From 14 October 2025, the fee rises to USD$150 per car equivalent unit (CEU) capacity of the vessel entering a US port.
Regarding the fees on vehicle carriers, the wording from the USTR seems to imply that the charge is on the ‘capacity’ of the vessel in CEU, rather than on the ‘discharge’ of vehicles from the vessel.
Again suspension of the fee is possible, if the vessel owner orders and takes delivery of a US built vessel of equivalent of greater CEU in the next 3 years. Meanwhile vessels involved in the US Maritime Administration programs such as Maritime Security are exempt from the fees, in addition US owned vessels and special export vessels are also exempt.
ECG Members can access the full report here.