Fees on Chinese-linked ships return on 10 November unless USTR acts
The one-year pause on US port fees for Chinese-built and Chinese-operated ships ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on 9 November. As of 21 October, no notice extending it has been published.
Known
- USTR suspended the Section 301 ship fees and the duties on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo handling equipment from 12:01 a.m. EST on 10 November 2025 through 11:59 p.m. EST on 9 November 2026 (Federal Register notice 2025-19873, 13 November 2025). - During the suspension, no party accrues liability for, or has to pay, those fees or duties. - USTR said it would consider, before the 10 November 2026 deadline, whether to continue the suspension or take further action. - A search of the Federal Register on 21 October 2026 shows no USTR notice extending the suspension.
Not known yet
- Whether USTR will extend the suspension, and to what date. - What the fees will be if they return. - Whether a gap will open between 10 November and any new notice.
A one-year pause on US port fees for ships linked to China ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on 9 November.
The fees came from a Section 301 investigation into China's targeting of the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. They covered maritime transport services and, from October 2025, duties on ship-to-shore cranes and other cargo handling equipment.
What the notice says
On 13 November 2025, USTR published a notice suspending all of these actions for one year, following the trade deal announced by the US and Chinese presidents on 1 November 2025. During the suspension, no party accrues liability for the fees or duties.
The notice says USTR "will consider whether it is appropriate to continue the suspension period or whether further action is appropriate" before the 10 November 2026 deadline.
Where things stand
A search of the Federal Register on 21 October 2026 shows no USTR notice extending the suspension. Only a published notice can change the date written in the 2025 notice.