by Dave Akers, IHSA

The U.S. government is implementing new port fees on Chinese-built, owned, and operated vessels, a policy aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese maritime assets and stimulating the domestic shipbuilding industry. These fees, which are scheduled to begin on October 14, 2025, are creating a significant challenge for the entire supply chain. As a result, both ocean carriers and shippers are taking proactive measures to mitigate the financial and operational impact.

Carrier Strategies for Navigating the Fees

Ocean container carriers are responding with a variety of operational and financial adjustments. Their primary goal is “cost avoidance” rather than simply passing the fees to customers.

• Fleet and Route Reorganization: The most immediate response is to strategically deploy their global fleets to avoid the fees. This involves shifting Chinese-linked vessels to non-U.S. trade routes, such as Asia-Europe lanes. Within major shipping alliances, non-Chinese members may take on a larger share of U.S. routes to minimize fee exposure. Carriers are also considering consolidating port calls at a single major gateway to limit the fees, which are capped at five voyages per vessel per year.
• Financial and Contractual Measures: While some carriers are prioritizing cost avoidance, others are exploring ways to absorb or distribute the financial burden. The fees could be spread across all sailings on a given service, leading to a smaller, more widespread cost increase for all shippers. Industry groups are also developing new standard contractual clauses, such as those issued by BIMCO, to clearly define who is responsible for paying these new fees, which is likely to be the charterer.
• Leveraging Exemptions: Carriers are evaluating available exemptions. The fees do not apply to certain vessels, including smaller ships (less than 4,000 TEU), those on short voyages, or ships arriving empty to pick up U.S. exports. The policy also offers incentives for using U.S.-built vessels, though this is considered a difficult and long-term option due to limited U.S. shipbuilding capacity.

Shippers’ Response to the New Fees

Shippers and logistics teams are also taking steps to prepare for the new policy and its potential effects on their supply chains.

• Auditing and Planning: Shippers are conducting an audit of their current vessel routings and carrier dependencies to identify which of their voyages and ships will be subject to the new fees. This helps them understand their potential financial exposure and plan accordingly.
• Cost Management: It is widely anticipated that carriers will pass on some of these increased costs, which could lead to higher prices for U.S. importers and exporters and, ultimately, consumers. Shippers are reviewing their contracts to prepare for these potential cost increases, especially considering new standard clauses being developed by organizations like BIMCO that assign financial responsibility for the fees to the charterer.
• Lobbying and Advocacy: Industry groups such as the World Shipping Council (WSC), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and many industry groups including IHA and IHSA have been vocal in their opposition to the new fees. They argue that the fees will raise consumer prices, weaken U.S. trade, and do little to truly revitalize the U.S. maritime industry. These groups are actively working to advocate for policy changes and alternative solutions.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is currently developing a new payment system to collect these fees. The policy will be phased in over several years, with annual increases planned through April 2028. The potential impact of these port fees represents a significant shift for the entire global supply chain.