美国下周开征“港口费”加剧行业波动

Core Points - The U.S. is set to implement the "301 tariff" measures against Chinese shipping companies starting October 14, which will impose additional fees on Chinese-owned, operated, or built vessels, as well as foreign-built car carriers [1][2] - The measures are expected to disrupt global shipping order and ultimately increase costs for businesses and consumers, rather than reviving the U.S. shipbuilding industry [1][4] Group 1: Implementation Details - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced fees of $50 per net ton for Chinese-owned or operated vessels, $18 per net ton or $120 per container for Chinese-built vessels, and $14 per net ton for non-U.S. built car carriers [2] - The measures are seen as a significant step in the U.S. policy to enhance its shipbuilding competitiveness, which was initiated with an investigation in April 2022 [2][3] Group 2: Industry Impact - Experts from the China Shipowners Association criticized the U.S. measures as a hegemonic act that violates World Trade Organization non-discrimination principles, arguing that the rationale of revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry is flawed due to significantly higher construction costs in the U.S. compared to China and South Korea [3][6] - The global top ten shipping companies are projected to face up to $3.2 billion in additional costs by 2026 due to these measures, which may disrupt the normal operation of the global shipping system [4] Group 3: Economic Consequences - The additional port fees are expected to increase shipping costs for U.S.-China trade by approximately 4%, exacerbating inflationary pressures in the U.S. and potentially leading to port congestion and disruptions in supply chains [5] - The U.S. shipbuilding industry is currently at a disadvantage, with projections indicating that only about ten commercial vessels will be built in the U.S. in 2024, while China is expected to complete over 1,000 vessels [6][7]