US port fee plan open to legal challenge
- Legal challenges to USTR port levy proposals are theoretically possible, but litigation would be a costly risk
- A China-built ship, controlled by a Chinese operator with other Chinese vessels in its fleet could attract a total levy of $3.5m per call
- 20% of US port calls last year were made by operators that had vessels on order in China
- 70% of had at least one China-built vessel in their fleet
Shipowners or shippers of any nationality have right to seek injunction against proposals, say lawyers
