On Oct. 14, 2025, a new front opened in the long-running trade dispute between the U.S. and China. The U.S. began imposing additional port service fees on vessels connected to Chinese entities, following an April announcement by the U.S. Trade Representative under its Section 301 investigation into Beijing's practices in maritime, logistics and shipbuilding.

These fees, which start at $50 per net ton and rise to $140 by 2028, target ships owned, operated or built by Chinese companies, reflecting Washington's push to revitalize its own shipbuilding industry amid accusations of unfair state subsidies from China.

In swift retaliation, China introduced matching special port fees on U.S.-linked vessels, beginning at roughly $56 per net ton and increasing to $157 by 2028. The measures apply to ships owned or operated by American firms, those flying the U.S. flag, or even vessels where U.S. entities hold at least 25 percent equity.

This exchange barely had time to settle before President Trump escalated matters further. On Oct. 11, he announced an additional 100 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, set to take effect Nov. 1, 2025, on top of existing duties. The move came amid a stock market sell-off and followed China's restrictions on rare earth mineral exports, which Trump cited as justification.

Beijing responded with defiance, signaling........

© The Hill