[Global Times Comprehensive Report] China's Ministry of Transport announced on the 10th that starting from October 14, port fees will be charged to U.S. ships per voyage. When answering reporters 'questions on this measure on the 10th, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Transport mentioned that in April this year, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced the final measures for the 301 investigation into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding fields. This is a legitimate measure taken by China to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China shipping companies. It urges the United States to immediately correct its wrong practices and stop unreasonable suppression of China's shipping industry.

According to the announcement of the Department of Transportation, the objects of collecting special port fees for ships include ships owned or operated by American enterprises, other organizations and individuals; Vessels owned or operated by businesses, other organizations and individuals in which U.S. businesses, other organizations and individuals directly or indirectly hold 25% or more of the equity (voting rights, board seats); A ship flying the United States flag or built in the United States. The collection fee will be implemented in stages: starting from October 14 this year, it will be charged at 400 yuan per net ton, adjusted to 640 yuan per net ton from April 17, 2026, and raised to 880 yuan per net ton from April 17, 2027. yuan, further increased to 1,120 yuan per net ton from April 17, 2028; If a ship calls at multiple Chinese ports on the same voyage, the fee will only be paid at the first port, and the fee for the same ship will not exceed 5 voyages within a year.

On the 10th, Reuters quoted analysts' estimates as saying that after the Chinese measures take effect, a fee on an American ship carrying more than 10,000 containers may be as high as $1 million, and it may rise every year until 2028.

When reporting this news, foreign media mentioned that the measures taken by the United States to charge port service fees for Chinese ships will also take effect on October 14th. A spokesman for China's Ministry of Transport said on the 10th that the U.S. approach ignores the facts, fully exposes its unilateralist and protectionist nature, has obvious discriminatory colors, seriously damages the legitimate interests of China's shipping industry, seriously disrupts the stability of the global supply chain, and seriously undermines the international economic and trade order. China will resolutely take countermeasures against the wrong practices of the United States in accordance with the law, promote the establishment of a fair and just international shipping market order, and maintain the security and stability of the international logistics supply chain.

Liu Xiaosheng, deputy professor at the Institute of International Economy and Trade at the University of Central Finance and Economics, said in an interview with reporters at the Global Times on the 10th that China's special port charges on U.S. ships are a reciprocal counteraction to U.S. discriminatory port charges. This measure, in accordance with China's domestic regulations and the principle of reciprocity of international law, aims to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its maritime industry, and its legitimacy stems from the unilateral protectionist actions taken by the U.S. first.