Container shipping lines face up to US$3.2 billion in new fees by 2026 under tariffs targeting Chinese-built and Chinese-operated vessels, according to maritime analyst Alphaliner. The measures aim to curb China's dominance in shipbuilding, reported LA's Global Trade Magazine.
The tariffs, issued by the US Trade Representative under Section 301, will charge Chinese-owned or operated ships calling at US ports $50 per net ton per voyage, rising by $30 annually through 2027.
Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built ships over 4,000 TEU or 55,000 DWT will also be charged $18 per net ton or $120 per TEU in 2025, with annual increases of $5. Each vessel is limited to five charged voyages per year, and fee categories cannot be combined.
Operators investing in US-built ships may receive a three-year fee suspension. COSCO Group faces the largest exposure, with potential charges of $1.53 billion. ZIM, ONE and CMA CGM could incur $510 million, $363 million and $335 million respectively.
Within the Gemini Cooperation alliance, Maersk is expected to pay only $17.5 million, while Hapag-Lloyd may face $105 million. Seaspan, a Hong Kong-based tonnage provider, could generate $1.31 billion in fees across clients, prompting its relocation to Singapore.
Evergreen and HMM are expected to avoid the tariffs entirely. HMM's fleet is nearly all Korean-built, with 23 of 25 ships unaffected by the measures.
Alphaliner estimates COSCO's added cost at $2,121 per TEU, compared with $26 per TEU for Maersk. Carriers say the tariffs will not significantly disrupt networks or rates, having adjusted deployments during a 180-day grace period starting April 17.
MSC removed the 9,411 TEU MSC JEONGMIN from its California Express service, with its final Los Angeles call on August 3. The tariffs are a scaled-back version of April's proposal, featuring lower fees and targeted exemptions.
As the October 14 deadline approaches, carriers are refining strategies to balance compliance, cost control and service continuity amid growing geopolitical tensions.