On the one hand, the United States wields a charging stick, and on the other hand, China implements reciprocal counter-measures-on October 14, a day called the "maritime game node" by foreign media, the new regulations on port charges between China and the United States came into effect simultaneously. The United States wants to use discriminatory charges to curb China's shipping. China directly flaunts its "annual increase" trump card and responds to hegemony with rules and strength.
In April this year, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office announced a triple discriminatory tariff on Chinese ships: China’s owned or operated ships will be charged $50 per net tonne, China’s built ships will be charged $18 per net tonne or $120 per container, and car ships will be charged $14 per net tonne.
However, the US abacus has just been finalized, and China's counter-measures are on the way. At the end of September, China revised the International Maritime Transport Regulations and added counter-measures, paving the legal way for reciprocal response. On October 10, the Ministry of Transport directly announced that special port fees will be charged on U.S. ships, which will take effect on the same day as the U.S. policy and will not be delayed for a day.
More severe is the Chinese "staircase charge" design: the first year per net tonne 400 yuan, the following year increased to 640 yuan, the third year 880 yuan, the fourth year directly jumped to 1120 yuan. Reuters estimates, a million-box U.S. ships cost a single port or up to $ 1 million, and the annual increase.
China dares to be so tough, and its confidence is hidden in the double insurance of legal principles and strength. The 301 measures of the United States obviously violate the WTO non-discrimination principle and are typical unilateral protectionism; China's measures are endorsed by the International Maritime Transport Regulations and international law, and the Ministry of Transport clearly stated that "this is a legitimate measure to safeguard legitimate rights and interests".
Hard power is even more unshakable. China accounts for 7 of the top ten ports in the world. Most of the U.S. exports to China rely on these hubs for turnover, and the cost pressure will eventually be transmitted to U.S. companies such as Ford Motor. The U.S. shipbuilding industry is no longer what it used to be. Even its ally South Korea is afraid of being affected and hastily seeks exemptions, let alone replacing China's LNG carrier production capacity.
The National Retail Federation of the United States said directly that the fee "directly harms American enterprises and consumers", and the World Shipping Council criticized its "moving the stone and knocking its own feet".The Chinese side had a plan, and the Ministry of Commerce after the National Day introduced rare-earth, super-hard materials export control, and the port counter-control formed in conjunction, precisely hit the U.S. "seven inches."
The synchronous entry into force on October 14, the essence of the rule and hegemony: the US side engages in nationality discrimination, the Chinese side speaks equally; the US side is pressured by hegemony, the Chinese side responds with strength.
After all, what China never wants is friction, but an environment of fair cooperation. but if hegemony persists in provocation, China's counter-reaction will only come faster and more accurately - this is both the necessity of the principle of reciprocity, but also the backbone of strength.