China unveils detailed steps to charge special port fees on US ships

The document clarifies specific provisions on the charging scope and standards, entities to collect the fees, payable voyages, the date of implementation and other relevant aspects.

Exemptions from these special port fees will be granted to ships built by China, empty ships entering Chinese shipyards purely for repair purposes and other ships that are deemed exempted from payment, the document says.

It also notes that the scope and standards of fees and the charging period will be dynamically adjusted in line with the situation at the time of implementation, according to a state-controlled media outlet.

The detailed measures followed the ministry's announcement on October 10 that China will charge special port fees on US ships starting October 14 in response to the US move to impose additional port fees on Chinese ships after a Section 301 investigation.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)