U.S. Formalizes Two-Month Extension of China Ship Port Fee Suspension

The Trump administration has formally extended its suspension of port fees targeting Chinese-built and Chinese-operated vessels for another two months, keeping the controversial measures on hold while Washington continues trade negotiations with Beijing.

The extension took effect November 9, preventing the fees from returning following the expiration of an earlier one-year suspension agreed to under a trade deal between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2025.

Under the notice issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), shipping companies will not accrue liability for or be required to pay the maritime transport fees established under the administration’s Section 301 investigation into China’s dominance of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. The extension also maintains the suspension of additional duties on Chinese ship-to-shore cranes and other cargo-handling equipment.

The measures were originally adopted in April 2025 and subsequently modified in October 2025 as part of a broader effort to counter China’s growing influence over global shipbuilding and maritime transportation.

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