Broad Industry Coalition Urges Permanent Suspension of Costly U.S. Port Fees on China-Linked Ships

A broad coalition of maritime, agricultural, manufacturing, retail and logistics organizations is urging the Trump administration to permanently suspend U.S. port fees targeting China-linked vessels, warning that reinstating the charges would raise costs for American businesses, hurt exporters and disrupt global supply chains.

In an October 30 letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the coalition welcomed the proposed two-month extension of the Section 301 vessel fee suspension through January 9, 2027, but called on Washington to go further and eliminate the charges permanently.

Signatories include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Association of Port Authorities, International Chamber of Shipping and World Shipping Council, along with hundreds of other trade associations representing businesses that depend on ocean transportation.

The groups argue that reinstating the fees would add another layer of costs to supply chains already struggling with elevated freight rates, equipment availability challenges and uncertainty in global trade.

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