The measures are implemented from the date of publication, mainly including the formulation of the basis, the scope of collection, the standard of collection, the subject of collection, the payment schedule, the payment requirements, information verification, irregularity handling, dynamic adjustment, interpretation department and implementation time, further clarify the contents of ships built by China, airborne ships repaired only into Chinese shipyards, and other specific provisions for exemption from payment for ships that have been recognized as exempt.

The Measures put forward specific requirements for the ship or its agents to notify the maritime administration authorities of information before the ship arrives in the Chinese port. The Measures will adjust dynamically according to the circumstances, such as the scope, standards and time of take-off.

Article 1 In order to implement the announcement of special port charges for ships charged by U.S. ships, these measures shall be formulated in accordance with the regulations of the People's Republic of China's International Maritime Regulations and other regulations to safeguard the development interests of China's shipping industry.

Article 2 For ships engaged in international maritime transportation and berthing at Chinese ports and meeting any of the following conditions, the ship owner or its agent shall pay special port fees for ships:

(1) Ships owned by enterprises, other organizations and individuals in the United States;

(b) ships operated by enterprises, other organizations and individuals of the United States;

(3) Ships owned or operated by enterprises and other organizations in which American enterprises, other organizations and individuals directly or indirectly hold 25% or more of the equity (voting rights, board seats);

(d) ships hanging the flag of the United States;

vessels built in the United States.

Ships built by China under paragraphs 1 to 4 of the preceding paragraph shall be exempt from payment only for aircraft carrier ships entering the Chinese shipyard for repair and other ships recognized as exempt.

Article 3 The specific collection standards of special port fees for ships are as follows (if less than 1 net ton, it will be calculated as 1 net ton):

(1) Those who berth at Chinese ports starting from October 14, 2025 will be charged at RMB 400 per net ton;

(2) Those who berth at Chinese ports starting from April 17, 2026 will be charged at RMB 640 per net ton;

Those who land in Chinese ports from 17 April 2027 shall be charged 880 yuan per net tonne.

(4) Those who berth at Chinese ports starting from April 17, 2028 will be charged at RMB 1,120 per net ton.

For the same ship, the special port fee shall be charged for no more than 5 voyages within one year. April 17th of each year is the start date of the annual billing cycle.

Article 4 The special port charges for ships are charged by the maritime administrative authority of the port where the ship is located and are administered and used in accordance with relevant state regulations.

Article 5 If a ship calls at multiple China ports on the same voyage, it will only pay the ship's special port fee at the first port of call. Ships calling at China ports for more than 5 voyages within one year will be required to pay special port fees for the first 5 voyages. Based on the payment information of the first 5 voyages, no fees will be charged for cruising times.

Article 6 The shipyard or its agent shall, seven days before the expected arrival of the ship in the Chinese port (if the journey is less than seven days, when departing from the previous port), truthfully inform the maritime administration authority of the port where the ship is located of the ship's construction country, the flag of the ship, the owner, the operator, the rental situation, the port of the ship, and pay the ship's special port service fee.

Article 7 The maritime administrative agency where the port is located shall verify the situation of all ships arriving in the port in advance. If it is found that it is suspected of concealing or omitting the information of the ships listed in Article 6, it shall order the ship or its agent to make up the information.

Article 8 The maritime administrative agency shall not go through port entry and exit formalities for ships that violate these Measures and fail to pay the special port fees for ships as required.

Where the ship or its agent evades the payment of the special port charges for the ship, the charges due shall be paid before the next time the ship has departed from a Chinese port.

Article 9 The scope, standard and time of collection of special port charges for ships shall be adjusted dynamically according to the circumstances.

Article 10 These Measures shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Transport and shall come into effect as of the date of promulgation.

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On April 17, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative issued Section 301 investigation measures for China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries. Starting from October 14, 2025, ships owned or operated by Chinese companies, Chinese-built ships, and Chinese-nationalized ships will be investigated. Additional port service fees are charged. This move seriously violated WTO rules and the Sino-US maritime agreement, and caused serious damage to the maritime trade between China and the United States.

According to the "International Maritime Regulations of the People's Republic of China", with the approval of the State Council, the Ministry of Transport issued the "Announcement", and decided to collect special port charges for ships related to the United States from October 14, which is a legitimate measure to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industry and enterprises and the fair competition environment for international shipping.