Under US trade law Section 301 that allows governments to respond to trade practices it considers unfair, the US first introduced fees back in October 2025 on certain ships linked to China docking at US ports, with China imposing countermeasure fees on US ships docking in China. These were agreed to be suspended for one year in November 2025. Now that this year has passed, in October 2026, The US Trade Representative has proposed extending this suspension by another two months until 9 January 2027.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says it fully supports the ambition to increase US shipbuilding capacity and to make the US shipbuilding industry strong and efficient, as the construction of additional commercial shipping tonnage strengthens the global maritime sector’s efficiency and competitiveness. However, the port fees imposed on ships calling at US ports by USTR on 14 October 2025 (and subsequently by China as countermeasures on US- linked ships) posed significant challenges and disruptions for the US economy and consumers, as well as for the global shipping industry and global trade, notes the ICS.
Commenting on this development, ICS’ Head of Shipping Policy, Rachel Noronha, states: “ICS welcomes and strongly supports the proposal to further suspend the Section 301 measures affecting maritime transport services. This temporary extension, to allow further dialogue, must lead to a complete removal of these fees to provide much needed certainty for shipowners and consumers.
“We have consistently emphasised that measures which impose additional costs on international shipping can have consequences well beyond the maritime sector, ultimately affecting consumers across the world. This is especially the case at a time when global supply chains are already facing significant geopolitical and economic pressures.
“We encourage all parties to use this opportunity to pursue a predictable and internationally coordinated approach to strengthening the resilience of global shipping and supply chains.”
ICS has also signed a joint letter alongside organisations across agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and logistics calling for a permanent suspension to give businesses and supply chains greater certainty.