U.S. Proposes Extending Port Fee Freeze On Chinese Ships To January 2027

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is planning to extend the suspension of port fees for Chinese ships for an additional two months, moving the expiry date from November 9, 2026, to January 9, 2027.

The intentional move is aimed at giving Washington and Beijing more time to negotiate and settle existing disputes over Chinese logistics, shipbuilding, and the increasing Chinese footprint in the global maritime industry through technological breakthroughs, rapid roll-out of new builds, and state-supported policies encouraging foreign investments into the country’s shipping sector.

If the proposal is finalised by the authorities, the extension would keep the fee on hold from 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 10, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 9, 2027, and operators would face no fee obligations during this window.

However, the proposal has been subject to public review before it can take effect. The USTR opened a public consultation on October 23, 2026, and would accept feedback from businesses until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2026.

This story was originally published by Marine Insight. Read the full story at Marine Insight →