USTR Fees Could Hit 35% of key sectors' ships

When fees from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) targeting Chinese dominance of the maritime sector come into effect October 14, 2025, 35% of ships in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker and container fleet could be subject to additional fees when calling a US port. Even though these ships provide 44% of the combined fleet’s capacity, US importers and exporters should not expect increasing freight rates,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.

Of the ships that could be subject to the port fees, 70% are either Chinese owned or operated while 30% are built in China. More than half of the Chinese built ships are exempt due to their size or US ownership.

“Bulk carriers are more exposed to the increasing costs as 45% of the ships could be subject to the USTR fees. Because more ships are exempt, or because fewer ships are Chinese owned or operated, only 30% of crude tanker and container ships, and 19% of product tankers, could be subject to the fees when arriving at a US port,” says Rasmussen.

Although between 19% and 45% of bulkers and tankers could be subject to the fees, the global impact