The Sino-American ships charge dispute today sounded, but Trump calculated the wrong account, and must be defeated the fastest!
Both sides of the ocean have never seen this.
Today, October 14th, the shipping map of the Pacific Ocean is imprinted with a historic mark.
On this day, the high port service fees imposed by the United States on China ships and the special port fees imposed by China on American ships came into effect simultaneously. This "toll confrontation" broke the calm pattern in the history of global shipping and opened a new chapter in the Sino-US economic and trade game.
Reuters quoted expert judgment as early as April when the United States announced sanctions: " Its impact is more severe than tariffs, and it can be called the end of trade”。
However, judging from the foundation of the game and the realistic logic, this contest provoked by the United States was doomed to its faster defeat from the very beginning.
The United States "fist" hits its own shortcomings
The United States will come to this battle regardless of life and death. It wanted to use its so-called "rule-making power" to attack China's maritime and shipbuilding industries, but it ignored its own shortcomings in the shipping field and finally fell into the dilemma of "the more vigorous the efforts, the more severe the backlash."
The sanctions policy will be Ships owned, operated and built by China are included in the fee.Apparently wide coverage, the reality exposes the misjudgment of the global shipping ecology.
Why do you say that?
Judging from the comparison of industrial strength, U.S. sanctions are like "hitting a stone with an egg."
According to Clarkson Research Company data, China accounts for more than 40% of the global shipbuilding market, while the U.S. shipbuilding industry accounts for less than 1% of the global market.China has built 717 large merchant ships in eight months before 2025. The United States only completed one.80% of the world's new ship orders go to China shipyards.
This gap means that the U.S. imposes a tariff clause on “China builds ships.” Essentially a tax on major global shipping assets (including, of course, American allies),The ultimate cost will be passed on to those who rely on these ships U.S. importers and consumerson the body.
More importantly, Large gap in ports.This greatly reduces the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions.
Industry experts have noted that China accounts for about 41 percent of global foreign trade port throughput, and the United States only 6 percent.
As the world's largest merchandise trading country, China's ports are the core hub of international shipping. U.S. ports are far more dependent on Asian goods than China is on U.S. goods。
When the United States attempted to block Chinese ships with tariff barriers, Chinese shipping companies launched a fleet optimization plan to shift 20 large container ships to Asia-Europe routes to adjust costs through routes, while the U.S. relies on Chinese ports for oil transportation and distribution.
According to Bloomberg's calculation, the threshold of China's special port fee for American ships is 400 yuan per net ton, and a giant oil tanker needs to pay about 6.2 million US dollars for a single call. Such cost pressure is a fatal blow to American shipping companies that frequently call Chinese ports.
Because of China’s countermeasures, a key point here is that U.S. merchant ships or individuals will be charged twice!
Charges are stopped at Chinese ports, and charges are still charged after returning to American ports.
As for China, it rarely buys things from the United States. Naturally, there are few stops at American ports. Even if they do, they can take a detour.
The misjudgment of the United States is also reflected in the blind expansion of the “scope of sanctions.”
Its policy tried to curb China's shipbuilding industry with high charges, but it didn't expect In the first eight months of 2025, China still received 53% of the world's new shipbuilding orders.
The US shipbuilding industry, due to the breakdown of the industrial chain and the high cost of enterprises, has long lost global competitiveness, even without external competition is difficult to follow.
The imbalance of this industry. US sanctions have become "self-consumption", which failed to stop the development of China's shipbuilding industry, but instead plunged domestic shipping companies into the predicament of surging costs.
China breaks down its hegemony line with "reciprocity logic"
In the face of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States, China's countermeasures have never been blind, nor are they simply "tit for tat", but " Accurate peering + rule compliance"The strategy.
How to understand?
The announcement issued by the Ministry of Transportation of China on October 10, from the subject of the fee, the phase-by-phase standard to the exemption rules, all form a precise response to the US policy, showing the "passive defense" of restraint and wisdom.
This accuracy is first reflected in the definition of "American ship".
China clarifies the level of taxation U.S. owned and operated vessels, and U.S. shares of more than 25% of companies, this standard is not only in line with international practice, but also It accurately hits the penetration of American capital in the global shipping industry.
You know, American capital has widely deployed global shipping companies through equity participation, and China's counter-measures have made these hidden American-related assets nowhere to hide.
Compared to the U.S. sanctions, China's accurate strike makes it difficult for U.S. enterprises to avoid costs through "offshore operations", and the counter-effect is half-effective.
In terms of implementation rhythm, China adopts a "increasing year by year" charging model. Each net ton will be 400 yuan in 2025 and will rise to 1120 yuan in 2028.This gradual pressure not only gives the United States room for negotiation, but also demonstrates China's firm determination to safeguard its own rights and interests.
More importantly, China's counter-measures are completely on the high ground of rules:
The Ministry of Commerce clearly stated that The US approach violates the WTO rules and the Sino-US Maritime Agreement, and China has taken measures after several unsuccessful consultations.
It's to give the United States a good word, but if you don't listen to it, then try the dish of "reciprocity".
Since then, our gesture of "first-back soldier" has been in sharp contrast to the "unilateral behavior" of the United States and has also gained public understanding in the global shipping community.
How do we respond to US sanctions?
Definitely not using "flesh" to block bullets!
Enterprises such as medium-distance shipping start rapidly Fleet deployment, leasing additional South Korean ships to operate the US-West route, and diverting China-made ships to diversified markets such as Asia and Europe.
This significantly reduced the expected effects of U.S. sanctions.
U.S. shipping companies face two difficulties:
Either bear the high cost of Chinese ports, or give up China, the largest market in the world. No matter which way you choose, it means shrinking profits and losing the market.
You know, due to the large proportion of American oil shipping and bulk cargo companies calling Chinese ports, The damage was the worst in this game.
The trade war since this year, the United States has not been cheap from all directions, and the "port tax war" Trump is also reluctant to the goal. China is the world’s largest commodity trade power.This means There are no fewer ships entering Chinese ports than those entering the United States.
It is clear that this strange confrontation in the Pacific will eventually end with a strategic shrinkage of the United States.
It once again proves:
In today’s deep-focused globalization, hegemonic sanctions have long failed, and any attempt to “selfish” in a “harmful” way will ultimately only accelerate its own defeat.
This day remembered by history, October 14, not only witnessed the opening of a shipping game, but also confirmed a truth:
The trend of fair trade is unstoppable, and the game of imbalanced power has no winner.
Sooner or later, Trump has to find the ladder for himself to “declarate victory” and get things gone.
We'll wait and see him!
Finished –