China halts port fees on US vessels for one year

In a significant move to bolster economic ties, China has announced the suspension of special port fees for US-flagged vessels for a period of one year. The decision, effective from 13:01 on Monday, was disclosed by the Ministry of Transport and follows the consensus achieved during the 2025 China-US economic and trade consultations held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This initiative has also received the endorsement of China’s State Council. The suspension is a reciprocal measure to the US’s commitment to halt the enforcement of actions under its Section 301 investigation, which targeted China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries for the same duration. The ministry clarified that this suspension encompasses all prior announcements and guidelines related to US port fees and investigations into their impact on the safety and development of China’s shipping, shipbuilding, and related industrial supply chains. This strategic pause is aimed at stabilizing bilateral trade, protecting industrial supply chains, and fostering enhanced cooperation between China and the United States in the maritime sector.