Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Transport of China has issued a notice regarding the implementation of a special port service fee for American vessels, aimed at protecting the interests of China's shipping industry in response to U.S. trade measures [1][11]. Group 1: Background - The implementation of the special port service fee is a response to the U.S. Trade Representative's office's announcement on April 17, 2025, which imposed additional port service fees on Chinese-owned or operated vessels, violating WTO rules and damaging Sino-U.S. maritime trade [12]. - The decision to charge the special port service fee is seen as a legitimate measure to protect the rights of Chinese industries and ensure fair competition in international shipping [12]. Group 2: Main Content - The implementation measures consist of ten articles detailing the basis for the fee, the scope of collection, standards, responsible entities, payment requirements, information verification, penalties for violations, and the possibility of dynamic adjustments [13]. - Vessels built in China, empty vessels only entering Chinese shipyards for repairs, and other exempted vessels are not required to pay the special port service fee [13]. - The fee collection will be managed by maritime authorities at the port of call, and vessels docking at multiple Chinese ports in a single voyage will only pay the fee at the first port [5][13]. - The fee structure is set to increase over the years, starting from RMB 400 per net ton in 2025, rising to RMB 1120 per net ton by 2028 [9].

Core Points - The Ministry of Transport of China has issued the "Implementation Measures for Special Port Fees for American Vessels," effective from October 14, 2025, outlining the collection of special port fees for vessels owned or operated by American entities [1][6] - The measures specify the conditions under which vessels are required to pay the fees, including ownership and operational criteria related to American entities [1][2] Summary by Sections Implementation and Scope - The measures consist of ten articles detailing the basis for implementation, scope of collection, standards, collection entities, payment requirements, and penalties for non-compliance [1][5] - Vessels that are owned or operated by American enterprises, or those that are flagged or built in the U.S., are subject to the special port fees, while certain exemptions apply [1][2] Fee Structure - The special port fee is structured as follows: - From October 14, 2025, the fee will be 400 RMB per net ton - From April 17, 2026, it will increase to 640 RMB per net ton - From April 17, 2027, it will rise to 880 RMB per net ton - From April 17, 2028, it will reach 1120 RMB per net ton [2] Payment and Compliance - Each vessel is limited to a maximum of five fee-paying voyages per year, with the annual billing cycle starting on April 17 [3] - Vessels docking at multiple Chinese ports in a single voyage will only pay the fee at the first port of call, and subsequent calls will not incur additional fees if they exceed five voyages in a year [3][4] - Shipowners or agents must report vessel information to maritime authorities seven days prior to arrival, and failure to comply will result in penalties [3][4] Dynamic Adjustments - The collection standards and scope may be adjusted dynamically based on circumstances, ensuring flexibility in the implementation of the measures [4]