USTR scales back port fee plan targeting Chinese ships, offering relief to domestic exporters
- The US Trade Representative released its plan to levy fees on China-built and Chinese-operated ships calling at US ports, which was watered-down from the original proposal
- Fees will begin to be assessed after 180 days, will only apply once per voyage, and will not be cumulative
- Smaller ships and shortsea shipping exempt
- In a relief to commodity exporters, ships arriving empty will not be taxed
The industry provided extensive feedback to the US Trade Representative proposed port fee plan, and it looks like that input was taken seriously. On Thursday, the USTR revealed its long-awaited plan, which has been substantially dialled down from the original proposal presented in February