China-US tensions: Beijing hits US ships with ‘special port fees’; effective same day as US fees on Chinese vessels

China on Friday announced that it will start imposing “special port fees” on ships built or operated by the US. According to the transport ministery, the fees will take effect at Chinese ports from October 14 when US ships arriving in China will pay 400 yuan ($56) per net tonne, rising to 640 yuan in April. The fees will also undergo more increases annually.The ministry clarified that the charges apply to each voyage to China, not each individual port, and no ship will be charged more than five times a year.The move follows Washington’s April fees on Chinese-built and operated ships and the charges will take effect the same day as US port fees. US imposed these charges after an investigation into China’s shipbuilding sector, initiated under the previous US administration.A spokesperson for China’s transport ministry described the charges as a “legitimate measure to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese shipping companies.”They also said, “We urge the US side to immediately correct its wrongful practices and cease its unwarranted suppression of China’s shipping industry.”