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September 30, 2025

China Tightens Maritime Rules as U.S. Fees on Chinese Ships Near

China amended its maritime regulations to allow penalties and restrictions on vessels, data, and services from countries it accuses of targeting its shipping operations. The amendment, signed by Premier Li Qiang, took effect September 28, 2025. These changes come 2 weeks before the U.S. will start collecting fees on Chinese-built ships.

In 2024, multiple U.S. labor unions filed a petition urging the USTR to investigate China’s policies in maritime and shipbuilding sectors. After a Section 301 Investigation, the USTR concluded that China’s attempts to dominate these industries lead to market imbalances, stifle competition, and pose risks to U.S. economic security. Phased actions with fees starting at $50 per net ton, increasing annually will start on October 14, 2025.

Official guidance on the new U.S. fees has not been released. We will continue to monitor and provide additional details once more information is released by the USTR and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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