US – China trade deal - a zero-sum game for shipping?
Can the trade deal agreed by China and the US calm the global markets and by extension supply chains and the container shipping industry? Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent November 7, 2025 CREDIT: THE WHITEHOUSE The pandemic proved that disruption and chaos can benefit container shipping lines, tariffs are beneficial for some too, with the surge…
USTR proposes suspension of STS crane tariffs from China
Published on 07-11-2025 at 12:44 ZPMC vessel with three STS cranes for Port Houston. Photo: ZPMC A one-year suspension of tariffs on Chinese STS cranes brings relief to US ports as the US and China resume trade negotiations. After what has been described as a “historic trade and economic deal” reached between US President Donald…
USTR Moves to Suspend Port Fees Targeting China
Photo courtesy Port of Long Beach Mike Schuler November 6, 2025 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has opened a one-day public comment period and provided more clarity on the proposed one-year suspension of port entry fees and tariffs imposed under the Section 301 investigation targeting China’s dominance in maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.…
China Resumes U.S. Wheat Purchases After Trump–Xi Meeting
File Image: A shipment of American-grown wheat on the US-flagged Liberty Glory in the Port of Longview, Washington. Photo courtesy American Maritime Congress Reuters November 6, 2025 SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) – China has booked two cargoes of U.S. wheat following last week’s meeting between the countries’ leaders, traders said on Thursday, the first such purchases since October…
Trump Administration Seeks to Negotiate with China on Shipping
November 6, 2025 © eyewave / Adobe Stock The Trump administration said on Thursday it would pursue negotiations with China over its dominance of shipbuilding and ocean logistics as it formalized plans for a one-year pause on U.S. port fees on China-linked vessels as part of a broader deal to reduce trade tensions. The U.S.…
Supreme Court Seems Skeptical of Trump’s Global Tariffs
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Bloomberg November 5, 2025 By Greg Stohr (Bloomberg) — The US Supreme Court appeared skeptical…
Global shipping giants reflag vessels to India
A growing number of international shipping companies are reflagging vessels under the Indian flag, signaling a strategic shift in global maritime operations, reports Mumbai’s reported Republic Business. India’s mix of economic incentives, regulatory reforms and infrastructure expansion is attracting major players to its ports.. The Indian government is offering Indian-flagged ships priority access to government…
Matson Paid $6.4 million in Port Fees to China
November 4, 2025 © sheilaf2002 / Adobe Stock U.S. ocean shipping company Matson MATX.N has paid $6.4 million in port fees to China since they were implemented on October 14, CEO Matt Cox said on Tuesday. President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping last week agreed to put those tit-for-tat levies on pause for 12…
Supply chain damage already done, says Xeneta
Outlook for 2026 looking rosier for shippers as over-capacity and market uncertainty will limit freight rates. Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent November 3, 2025 IMAGE: PORT OF LA China and the US’ trade war truce, suspending port fees and lowering tariffs will not see an upsurge of demand as the damage to supply chains has already happened…
Coast Guard Grants Temporary Relief to Mariners as Shutdown Paralyzes Credentialing
Photo courtesy American Maritime Partnership Mike Schuler November 3, 2025 National Maritime Center remains closed as government shutdown approaches record length The U.S. Coast Guard has extended merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates through January 31, 2026, as the federal government shutdown approaches its fifth week with no resolution in sight. The National Maritime…
Port fees truce to begin next Monday as China pledges massive soybean buys
Sam ChambersNovember 3, 2025 A year-long suspension of tit-for-tat port fees between the United States and China will take effect next Monday, according to a release from the White House, marking a major breakthrough in global trade flows and offering a potential boost to bulk shipping markets. The truce forms part of a sweeping trade…
What Did Trump, Xi Agree to on Tariffs, Export Controls and Fentanyl?
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Reuters October 31, 2025 WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday took…
US, China agree to one-year suspension of port fees
Published on 31-10-2025 at 09:41 Shutterstock A one-year suspension of Section 301 port fees and reciprocal Chinese measures offers temporary relief for the maritime and logistics sectors. The United States has decided to suspend the recently imposed Section 301 port fees for one year following an agreement reached with China, easing trade tensions between the…
Kalmar sees slowdown in Americas amid tariff impact
Published on 31-10-2025 at 08:59 Kalmar straddle carriers arrive at GMP Kalmar Kalmar CEO Sami Niiranen said the third quarter delivered a record 13.8% operating profit margin, driven by services growth and efficiency gains, despite persistent market uncertainty and delayed customer decisions. Kalmar reported financial results for the third quarter of 2025 and the first…
Oman offers 5-year tax relief to boost maritime sector
Oman has announced a five-year withholding tax waiver on maritime service contracts aboard Omani-flagged vessels to attract global shipping and investment, reports the Times of India. The initiative, effective from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2030, aims to reduce operational costs for shipping firms and enhance Oman’s appeal as a regional maritime hub. It…
Trump, Xi Pause Port Fees on Each Other's Vessels
October 30, 2025 © Adobe Stock/monvideo The U.S. and China agreed on Thursday to pause tit-for-tat fees on each other’s ships that became a major irritant in the broader trade war between the world’s two largest economies and pushed up ocean freight costs. The move provides a 12-month reprieve on an estimated $3.2 billion annually…
US port-entry fees on China-linked ships begin
The United States began imposing Section 301 port-entry fees on China-linked vessels on October 14, with charges reaching up to five times per vessel annually. The new fees are already being passed through to shippers as surcharges, reported US-headquartered Pricer. Under Annex I, Chinese-owned or operated vessels now pay US$50 per net ton, rising to…
China's green shipping push boosts trade stability
China’s efforts to promote green shipping are helping stabilise global trade amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty, opined Beijing’s Global Times. The country launched a new initiative at the 2025 North Bund Forum in Shanghai to foster international cooperation on low-carbon shipping corridors. The Ministry of Transport announced plans to establish a green corridor between…
China urges unity in shipping against US Net-Zero tax revolt
Transport Minister Liu Wei has called on global shipping firms and port operators to resist protectionism and promote free trade, following new US port fees targeting Chinese vessels, reports Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Speaking at the North Bund Summit in Shanghai, Mr Liu urged industry players to foster a fair and open trade…
Trump’s Tariffs Have Canada Eyeing Asia Trade Ties
First cargo departs LNG Canada in Kitimat, June 30, 2025. Photo courtesy LNG Canada Bloomberg October 29, 2025 By Thomas Seal (Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump’s latest tariff salvo against Canada landed just as Mark Carney was setting out on a mission to insulate his country from the fallout of the trade war. As the US…
Trump Seeks Trade-War Truce With China’s Xi in South Korea Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters October 29, 2025 By Trevor Hunnicutt BUSAN, South Korea, Oct 30 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off a meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping at a…
US cruise ship drops Shanghai over new Chinese port fee
Freight Enquiry Top Trends News & Media Our References EN October 28, 2025 A luxury US cruise ship has removed Shanghai from its itinerary to avoid a newly imposed Chinese port fee targeting American-flagged vessels, reports Caixin. The Riviera, a 1,250-passenger vessel operated by Oceania Cruises under Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, was scheduled…
US and China edge closer to trade breakthrough
Published on 27-10-2025 at 16:35 Shutterstock The United States and China appear to be moving towards easing their ongoing trade tensions, with the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting that a potential trade deal framework is now in place. Speaking to NBC News while accompanying President Trump in Malaysia, Bessent said he had concluded two…
US terminals pay tariffs on STS cranes
Published on 27-10-2025 at 07:54 A ZPMC vessel carrying STS cranes for Gulfport Mississippi, Freeport Texas and Kingston, Jamaica, arrives at Gulfport Gulfport US port operators have paid their first tariffs on ZPMC cranes as other OEMs are taking steps to increase ‘domestic’ content for US customers. What is unfolding in the container crane market in…
India eyes US$96 billion maritime investment by 2047
India’s maritime sector is projected to attract INR8 trillion (US$96 billion) in investment and generate 15 million new jobs by 2047 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced, reported Saint Petersburg’s PortNews. The announcement followed a review meeting in Mumbai attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit…
Trump Plan Would Open Almost All Coast to Offshore Drilling
An offshore oil platform is seen in Huntington Beach, California, U.S. September 28, 2014. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Bloomberg October 25, 2025 By Jennifer A. Dlouhy Oct 23, 2025 (Bloomberg) –The Trump administration is readying a proposal to open almost all US coastal waters to new offshore oil drilling despite opposition from state governors and the president’s previous…
Hard hit car carrier sector slams US port fee hike
Vehicle carrier operators and trade groups have criticised the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to more than triple port call fees for foreign-built vessels calling at US ports, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. The revised levy will rise to US$46 per net ton, up from $14 set in June, when the USTR shifted from…
IMO is more than what happened last week - Dominguez
Secretary general says IMO remains strong and is already addressing issues identified with the Net Zero Framework at MEPC last week. Gary Howard, Middle East correspondent October 23, 2025 IMAGE: EMMA HOWELL IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez is looking at silver linings after an extraordinary meeting of its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)last week delayed the…
Flag-hopping hits extreme levels
Sam ChambersOctober 23, 2025 MarineTraffic / Gianluca Balloni (Boracay under previous name) MarineTraffic / Gianluca Balloni (Boracay under previous name) The monthly publication of Clarksons Research’s World Fleet Monitor increasingly shows data that reflects the extraordinary geopolitical challenges and machinations that shipping has to navigate in 2025. With flag-hopping becoming standard operating procedure for the…
Trump’s Russian oil sanctions set to redraw global tanker trading map
Sam ChambersOctober 23, 2025 White House White House US president Donald Trump has imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, in what he described as “tremendous sanctions” aimed at forcing Moscow to the negotiating table over its war in Ukraine. The sanctions have the potential to redraw the global…
Philippines investigating US authorities barring seafarers from entry
Nearly 100 Filipino crew had been deported from the US by mid-year according to figures from the Philippines government. Marcus Hand, Editor October 23, 2025 National Council of Churches in the Philippines press conferenceCREDIT: SCREENSHOT FROM FACEBOOK VIDEO The Philippines Embassy in the US has sought answers from the US authorities over a growing number of…
China’s $1 Billion of Daily US Exports Show Xi’s Bargaining Power
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows a cargo ship at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in Hong Kong, China, April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo Bloomberg October 22, 2025 By Bloomberg News Oct 22, 2025 (Bloomberg) –Six months into Donald Trump’s trade war, the resilience of Chinese exports is proving just how…
Rising US deportations of Filipino crew spark diplomatic intervention
Sam ChambersOctober 23, 2025 US Citizenship and Immigration Services US Citizenship and Immigration Services The Philippines has demanded an explanation from Washington after a rising number of Filipino seafarers were reportedly denied entry to the United States and deported in recent months. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, said…
How geopolitics is redrawing the world’s shipping routes
SplashOctober 23, 2025 Port of Long Beach Port of Long Beach Globalisation isn’t dead, but it’s changing course, writes Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics, and author of this year’s bestseller The Fractured Age. Commentators have been quick to declare globalisation dead. But, as is so often the case in economics, the reality…
ACL warns of US$34m cost after falling through USTR rule gap
Published on 23-10-2025 at 07:42 ACL vessel in Hamburg Shutterstock Atlantic Container Line faces a US$34m annual charge after the USTR reclassified its China-built ConRo ships as Ro-Ro vessels. Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a New Jersey-based carrier owned by Italy’s Grimaldi Group, operates a fleet of ConRo vessels between North America and Europe. Under the…
China’s Port Fee Retaliation Lands Lightly on U.S. Carriers
Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com The Loadstar October 21, 2025 By Alison Koo (The Loadstar) – The impact of Chinese port fees on US-owned and operated ships has proved milder than expected. Linerlytica said in its report today that, although Beijing widened the fees to ships owned or operated by companies that are at…
US May Cut India Tariff Rate to 15-16% in Trade Deal, Mint Says
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Indian flag and the word “Tariffs” are seen in this illustration taken July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Bloomberg October 21, 2025 By Nasreen Seria Oct 21, 2025 (Bloomberg) –India and the US are nearing a trade deal that could lower tariffs on Indian…
BIMCO moves to draft clause on new Chinese port fees
Adis AjdinOctober 22, 2025 SIPG SIPG BIMCO has begun work on a new standard clause to address recently announced port fees imposed by China on ships linked to the US. The world’s largest shipping association said the clause will provide legal and commercial clarity following Beijing’s decision to levy “Special Port Fees” on vessels that…
IMO NZF delay - newbuilds will shift back to conventional engines
Analysts Jeffries expect shipowners that have ordered dual-fuel tonnage to downgrade engines from capable to ready Barry Parker, New York Correspondent October 21, 2025 CREDIT: CSSC In the aftermath of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) decision to postpone adoption of its proposed Net Zero Framework, analysts of shipping equities, but also observers of the broader energy…
Russia, China Finalize Deal to Jointly Develop Arctic Shipping Along the Northern Sea Route
China’s Minister of Transport Liu Wei and Russia’s Director of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev after signing the agreement. (Source: Rosatom) Malte Humpert October 20, 2025 Beijing and Moscow have agreed to jointly develop and commercialize shipping along the Northern Sea Route in the Russian Arctic. The deal was signed in the Chinese city of Harbin last…
ICS disappointed over MEPC outcome
21.10.2025 The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has expressed disappointment after the International Maritime Organization’s extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC ES) in London failed to reach an agreement on a global Net-Zero Framework for shipping. The proposed framework would have introduced the world’s first carbon pricing mechanism for any industrial…
US, Australia Sign Critical Minerals Agreement, Back Submarine Deal
October 20, 2025 Source: social media U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals agreement aimed at countering China on Monday at a meeting marked by Trump’s jab at Australia’s envoy to the United States over past criticism. China loomed large at the first White House summit between Trump…
BIMCO warns a third of ships may face USTR port fees
BIMCO estimates that 35 per cent of ships calling at US ports could be subject to new port fees under the US Trade Representative’s programme, reported Fort Lauderdale’s Maritime Executive. The fees target Chinese-owned, operated or built vessels, following a Biden administration investigation into unfair practices in China’s maritime sector. The Trump administration’s plan aims…
Opinion: Unpacking The Shipping Global Carbon Tax Delay
FILE PHOTO: Shutterstock/CNRN Editorial October 20, 2025 A fragmented, multipolar approach to decarbonization might actually fit our fragmented, multipolar world better. By James Lightbourn — While there’s plenty of soul-searching underway among supporters of the world’s first proposed carbon tax, its one-year delay could ultimately lead to a more resilient decarbonization framework — and perhaps…
ClarkSea Index surges past $30,000 as port fees ripple through markets
Sam ChambersOctober 20, 2025 Ningbo Zhoushan Port Ningbo Zhoushan Port The disruption brought about by last Tuesday’s start of tit-for-tat extra port fees levied by the US and China has propelled shipping earnings to very high levels. The cross-sector ClarkSea Index, a weighted average of tanker, bulk carrier, containership, and gas carrier earnings managed by…
IMO fracture deepens global climate fault lines in shipping
Sam ChambersOctober 20, 2025 IMO IMO Shipping historians covering the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) would need to go back more than 40 years to a comparable setback to what played out on Friday and the downing of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF). Friday saw member states vote for a one-year delay in the NZF, throwing shipping’s…
Delaying IMO Net Zero Framework adoption – flogging a dead horse?
The member states of the UN body have another year to decide on net zero plans but is adjourning the vote now just delaying framework’s eventual demise? Marcus Hand, Editor October 18, 2025 CREDIT: IMO Delaying the adoption of the IMO’s Net Zero Framework has kept it alive, but the question is what will have…
US-China Reciprocal Port Fees Signal New Era in Trade Tensions
Stock Photo: GuoZhongHua/Shutterstock Paul Morgan October 17, 2025 In a bold escalation of the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, Beijing has implemented retaliatory ‘special port fees’ on American-linked vessels, mirroring Washington’s Section 301 measures that target Chinese shipping. By Paul Morgan (gCaptain) – Announced on October 10, 2025, by China’s Ministry of Transport, these fees took…
Inside Trump’s Pressure Campaign to Derail Global Shipping Emissions Tax
Global Trade And Shipping Industry Depicted Through Cargo Ships And Containers At Sea Bloomberg October 17, 2025 By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Jack Wittels and Eric Martin(Bloomberg) — Environmentalists eager to curb planet-warming pollution from shipping had grown increasingly confident that countries would adopt the first-ever global tax on emissions this year. But those predicting success failed to…
IMO fails to agree Net-Zero Framework, pushes talks to 2026
Adis AjdinOctober 18, 2025 IMO IMO Negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have broken down without agreement on the Net-Zero Framework, leaving the shipping industry facing another year of uncertainty over how its decarbonisation will be regulated. Delegates at the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s extraordinary session in London voted to adjourn discussions for 12…
IMO delays global shipping climate vote after US-led pushback
Published on 17-10-2025 at 18:22 The fuel standard would oblige ships to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels across the entire supply chain / Illustration Shutterstock The IMO has delayed adopting its Net-Zero Framework for shipping by a year after US-led opposition derailed what was expected to be a landmark climate deal. The International…
Nigerian importers face high costs as US imposes shipping charges
Nigerian importers are expected to pay more for freight and clearing as the United States imposes new charges on Chinese-built vessels, affecting top global shipping lines and raising costs by US$3.2 billion by 2026, report the Lagos Guardian. From now on, the US Trade Representative will charge Chinese carriers US$80 per net tonnage per voyage,…
Singapore big winner in USTR 301 fees fallout
Pacific Basin is to shift half its fleet and senior management from Hong Kong to Singapore as firms scramble to avoid US port fees on Chinese owners. Marcus Hand, Editor October 17, 2025 CREDIT: MARCUS HAND In a quarterly business update Hong Kong-listed Pacific Basin said it had been working with external advisors in relation…
‘Outraged’ Trump Tells Nations to ‘Vote No’ on Shipping’s Carbon Tax at IMO
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Mike Schuler October 16, 2025 President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to nations supporting a global carbon tax on shipping, threatening economic retaliation as the International Maritime Organization…
Navigating nation-state trade wars
SplashOctober 17, 2025 The White House The White House Punit Oza on the business sector’s impossible tightrope. “When governments pull the trigger, companies take the bullet,” he writes. In the escalating trade conflict between the United States, China, and their respective allies, a troubling paradox has emerged: nation-states wage economic warfare while the business sector—their…
Splash Wrap: Ports, politics and power
Sam ChambersOctober 17, 2025 US National Park Service US National Park Service Tuesday’s introduction of extra port fees levied by Beijing and Washington, along with this evening’s big vote on the International Maritime Organization Net-Zero Framework, were near constants in terms of headlines in what has been the busiest week of the year for shipping…
USTR fees – just one China-built ship in Port of LA this week
Normally around 20% of the vessels calling the US west coast port are Chinese built or owned. Marcus Hand, Editor October 15, 2025 CREDIT: PORT OF LOS ANGELES As the United States Trade Representative (USTR) fees come into force this week the Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) has just one Chinese built ship calling…
California Governor Vetoes Port Emissions Bill Over Fiscal Concerns
Shipping containers are unloaded from ships at a container terminal at the Port of Long Beach-Port of Los Angeles complex, , in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 7, 2021. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Mike Schuler October 15, 2025 California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Senate Bill 34, legislation that would have imposed new requirements on the South…
US and Saudi lead move to sink IMO’s Net-Zero Framework
Sam ChambersOctober 16, 2025 Ocean Rebellion Ocean Rebellion The United States and Saudi Arabia have launched a coordinated push to stall and potentially derail the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework (NZF), a landmark climate measure that aims to introduce a global carbon price for shipping. On the second day of this week’s extraordinary Marine…
US ports push for reversal of 100% crane tariff
Published on 16-10-2025 at 08:20 Port Houston gets new STS cranes Port Houston US ports are calling on the Trump Administration to roll back steep tariffs on Chinese-built cranes, saying the move risks crippling supply chain upgrades. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has urged the Trump Administration to reverse newly announced tariffs on…
California Governor rejects bill banning funding for automated equipment
Published on 15-10-2025 at 21:03 Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) has secured over US$100m in grants for cargo handling equipment and infrastructure over several years. Shutterstock Gavin Newsome has refused to sign a bill that would limit the ability of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to impose limits on port operations and…
Maersk diverts two US-flagged vessels from China
To avoid China’s new “Special Port Fee” the US-registered container ships will discharge Ningbo bound cargo in South Korea Marcus Hand, Editor October 15, 2025 CREDIT: MAERSK Two container ships operated by Maersk on a transpacific service will no longer call Ningbo as Chinese port fees for US-flagged ships come into force. A Maersk customer…
IMO’s green dream meets America’s red line
Sam ChambersOctober 15, 2025 While the majority of opening statements at yesterday’s opening of the latest Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) were broadly in favour of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework (NZF), the US delegation stood out once again for its outspoken opposition to the proposed green legislation. The American delegation, which made…
Panamax boxship hit with $1.7m Shanghai fee as China’s new port levies bite
Sam ChambersOctober 15, 2025 SIPG SIPG $1.7m. That’s the fee – or RMB12.1m – that the German owners of the US-flagged Matson Waikiki are being forced to pay to allow the vessel to dock in Shanghai, a sizeable sum, and an indication of the chaos, and costs, that are arising from yesterday’s introduction of hiked…
US to enforce 100% tariff on STS cranes from November 9
Published on 14-10-2025 at 17:41 ZPMC vessel with three STS cranes for Port Houston. Photo: ZPMC The United States is set to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese-made STS cranes and intermodal chassis from November 9; proposes additional duties of up to 150% on yard gantry cranes and mobile equipment. The United States is moving forward…
Beijing places sanctions on Hanwha Ocean’s American assets
Sam ChambersOctober 14, 2025 Hanwha Hanwha China has sanctioned five American subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, the South Korean shipbuilder formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, claiming the company was involved in the US probe into the Chinese shipping industry. The sanctioned subsidiaries include Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Hanwha Ocean USA International…
IMO’s Net-Zero Framework sails into political storm
Sam ChambersOctober 14, 2025 Carlos Jasso Carlos Jasso This week’s extraordinary Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) session – running from today through to Friday – will see International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states debate a monumental consolidation: a draft of the entire MARPOL Annex VI (Air Pollution by Ships), including the controversial Net-Zero Framework (NZF).…
Maritime Fees Spiral Deepens as US, China Trade Blows
October 14, 2025 © Wolfgang Jargstorff / Adobe Stock The United States and China on Tuesday began charging additional port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil, making the high seas a key front in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. China said it had…
US warns of retaliation against nations supporting IMO carbon tax
Published on 14-10-2025 at 11:00 IMO HQ Washington threatens retaliatory measures against countries backing proposed global carbon levy ahead of IMO vote this week. The United States announced it will reject any international environmental agreement that imposes “undue” or “unfair costs” on American citizens, energy providers, shipping companies, and tourists, ahead of a vote due…
Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Chinese goods (again)
Published on 13-10-2025 at 10:25 US President Donald Trump speaks at a White House press briefing January 2025 Shutterstock Trump’s renewed threat of 100% tariffs on China intensifies already-strained trade relations between the world’s two largest economies. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday, October 10, that the United States plans to impose a 100%…
Cosco faces US$1.53 billion hit from new US port fees
Container analysts at Alphaliner estimate that global carriers could face US$3.2 billion in fees next year under new US Trade Representative (USTR) rules targeting China-linked tonnage. COSCO and its Hong Kong subsidiary OOCL are projected to bear nearly half the cost, reported Singapore’s Splash 24/7. Starting October 14, vessels owned or operated by Chinese entities…
US Threatens Visa Restrictions, Sanctions Against UN Members That Back IMO Emissions Plan
MartinLueke / Shutterstock.com Reuters October 11, 2025 Oct 10 (Reuters) – The United States on Friday threatened to use visa restrictions and sanctions to retaliate against nations that vote in favor of a plan put forward by a United Nations agency to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from ocean shipping. U.N. member nations are scheduled to vote next…
USTR and China Yet to Discuss New Export Controls by Phone
October 12, 2025 © tawatchai1990 / Adobe Stock Trade Representative Jamison Greer said on Sunday that the U.S. reached out to China for a phone call following an announcement that it was expanding its rare earths export controls but Beijing deferred, while China accused the U.S. of what it called “double standards.” “I can tell…
China announces “special port fees” on US-linked vessels
Published on 13-10-2025 at 02:51 Container ships berthed at the Port of Oakland, California Shutterstock China has retaliated against the US Administration’s fees on Chinese vessels with its own “special port fees” on ships owned or operated by US companies. China’s Ministry of Transport (MoT) has announced a retaliatory fee on US owned or operated…
US-listed owners to bear brunt of China port fee retaliation
A VLCC owned by a US company set to be charged over $6 million per Chinese port call in USTR retaliation Marcus Hand, Editor October 11, 2025 CREDIT: PIXABAY China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) has unveiled its response to the USTR’s fees for Chinese owned, operated and built vessels that comes into force from 14…
China issues maritime countermeasures ahead of US port fees
China has revised its international maritime transport regulations to allow countermeasures against countries imposing restrictions on Chinese shipping. The move comes ahead of a new US port fee policy targeting Chinese vessels, reports Ventura, California’s gCaptain. The decree, signed by Premier Li Qiang states that China will respond to discriminatory bans or restrictions unless treaties…
Freight to Dodge Worst of US Port Fees Thanks to Workarounds
Photo courtesy Port Los Angeles Bloomberg October 9, 2025 By Weilun Soon (Bloomberg) — Freight rates are likely to see limited impact when the US starts charging Chinese vessels for calling at its ports next week, as shipping firms find several ways to circumvent the punitive measures, including reshuffling their fleets. Some 35% of vessels…
Cyprus’ EU Presidency to put shipping centre stage
The nation will take over the Presidency of the European Council in January for six months Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent October 8, 2025 CREDIT: GIAGKOU SPIROS VIA CYPRUS GOVERNMENT European maritime development is being promised a major boost with the assumption of Cyprus of the Presidency of the European Council in January that will focus…
USTR fees could impact 35% of key sectors’ ships: BIMCO
Sam ChambersOctober 8, 2025 When fees from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) targeting Chinese dominance of the maritime sector come into effect next week on October 14, 35% of ships in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker and container fleet could be subject to additional fees when calling a US…
Determining Trump's China-Linked Port Fees is Shipowners’ Responsibility
October 7, 2025 © Lichtwolke99 / Adobe Stock The U.S. is one week away from imposing port fees on certain vessels with links to China, a move expected to cost the top 10 carriers $3.2 billion next year as President Donald Trump seeks to address China’s growing dominance on the high seas. “While some observers…
CBP Shifts Compliance Burden to Operators as USTR Port Fees on Chinese Ships Loom
CBP Shifts Compliance Burden to Operators as USTR Port Fees on Chinese Ships Loom Mike Schuler U.S. Customs and Border Protection has provided long-awaited details related to payments for the new vessel fees targeting Chinese maritime interests that take effect October 14. The fees, mandated under the Section 301 investigation of “China’s Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and…
China’s September LNG Imports Seen Declining for Eleventh Month
China’s September LNG Imports Seen Declining for Eleventh Month Bloomberg Total Views: 0 September 28, 2025 Share this article By Sing Yee Ong Sep 28, 2025 (Bloomberg) –China’s imports of liquefied natural gas in September are poised to drop more than a fifth from a year ago, extending a slump in purchases as domestic supplies and…
US tariffs to lower Panama Canal traffic in '26
US tariffs to lower Panama Canal traffic in ’26 September 25, 2025 Daily vessel transits through the Panama Canal will remain below full capacity next year due to tariff-driven frontloading of US imports and weaker demand on the East and Gulf coasts, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. The canal can handle 36 daily transits,…
Confusion surrounds USTR port fees implementation
Additional fees for Chinese owned/operated and China-built vessels calling at US ports come into force on 14 October but confusion reigns over implementation. Marcus Hand, Editor September 25, 2025 CREDIT: CMA CGM “What is happening with USTR is as clear as mud,” was the comment of one speaker at the Marine Money Asia conference in…
Shipping Industry Faces Volatility from Tariffs and Geopolitical Conflicts
September 24, 2025 © Adobe Stock/moofushi The shipping industry is experiencing major volatility amid rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions caused by a wave of new tariffs, according to a report published on Wednesday by the U.N. Trade and Development agency. Due to an increasingly complex and uncertain global trade environment, subdued industrial activity in major…
China Shakes Off US Tariff Threat
September 23, 2025 Source:MSI New analysis by Maritime Strategies International cites emerging evidence that the demand side of the industry will prove better-insulated from tariffs than was expected earlier in the year, while a dynamic where Chinese exporters continue to export their manufactured goods surplus – above all to emerging economies – has significantly buoyed…
MSC reshuffles fleet to absorb US port fees
Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has restructured its global vessel network to comply with upcoming US port fees targeting Chinese-built or operated ships, aiming to shield customers from the added costs, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. MSC chief executive Soren Toft said the internal changes ensure compliance with US trade regulations while preserving service reliability.…
Trump Puts 15,000 Offshore Wind Jobs at Risk With Halt Orders
The first offshore wind turbine is installed at the South Fork Wind project offshore New York. Photo courtesy New York State Bloomberg September 22, 2025 By Georgia Hall and Greg Ryan (Bloomberg) — Cesar Lima never gave much thought to the politics of offshore wind. Most days, the ironworker focused on his shift 15 miles out…
Federal Court Reverses Trump’s Stop-Work Order on Revolution Wind
Wind turbines at Orsted’s Block Island wind farm off Rhode Island, one of two commercial offshore wind farms in the United States. Credit: PennyJack Creative/Shutterstock Reuters September 22, 2025 By Jan Wolfe Sept 22 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Monday granted a request by Danish offshore wind developer Orsted to restart work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project,…
Maduro Writes Directly To Trump Calling For Venezuela-US Talks
Navy guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale DDG-106 docks at the Frigate Captain Noel Antonio Rodriguez Justavino Naval Base near the entrance to the Panama Canal, in Panama City, Panama, September 21, 2025. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Bloomberg September 21, 2025 By Bloomberg News Sep 21, 2025 (Bloomberg) —Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wrote directly to Donald Trump this month…
HD Hyundai eyes US yard in bid to cash in on Trump’s shipbuilding revival
Sam ChambersSeptember 19, 2025 South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has confirmed it is in talks with multiple firms to buy a US shipyard, a move aimed at tapping into Washington’s resurgent naval build-up under president Donald Trump. A senior HD Hyundai executive told Reuters in Ulsan that the Korean conglomerate has set a target…
Coast Guard Extends Sea Service Recency Period, Opening Doors for Returning Mariners
A Military Sealift Command civil service mariner assigned to the Emory S Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), heaves line as Frank Cable departs Singapore July 2, 2022. U.S> Navy Photo Mike Schuler September 18, 2025 The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published a policy letter that significantly extends…
Legal Battle Intensifies as States Fight to Revive Halted Revolution Wind Project
Wind turbines at Orsted’s Block Island wind farm off Rhode Island, one of two commercial offshore wind farms in the United States. Credit: PennyJack Creative/Shutterstock Mike Schuler September 18, 2025 Connecticut and Rhode Island attorneys general have escalated their legal fight against the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to the Revolution Wind offshore energy project, filing…
Transpacific starting to see decline in deployment of Chinese-built ships
Published on 18-09-2025 at 14:44 Cosco Shipping container ship Shipping lines are scaling back Chinese-built vessels on Trans-Pacific routes ahead of new US port fees, highlighting the growing cost pressures from the latest US trade policies. Shipping lines are showing early signs of reducing the deployment of Chinese-built vessels on Transpacific trades ahead of new…
China's Hold on Global Ports focus of Trump Administration
By Jonathan Saul September 16, 2025 Copyright Moofushi/AdobeStock U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is on a mission to weaken China’s global network of ports and bring more strategic terminals under Western control, according to three sources familiar with the plan. The drive is part of the most ambitious effort to expand U.S. maritime influence since…
China imposes duties of up to 62pc on EU pork
China has introduced temporary anti-dumping duties on pork imports from the European Union, with rates reaching as high as 62.4 per cent. The move is widely viewed as a response to the EU’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, reports London’s Financial Times. The commerce ministry in Beijing said its year-long investigation found preliminary evidence that…
US sets lower 15pc tariff on Japanese autos, goods
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order implementing the July US?apan trade agreement, lowering tariffs on Japanese automobiles and parts to 15 per cent and capping most other imports at the same rate, reported Saint Petersburg’s PortNews. The 15 per cent auto tariff will take effect following a Federal Register notice due within seven…
China levies 78pc tariffs on US fibre optics
China will impose anti-dumping duties of up to 78.2 per cent on US-made fibre optic products, escalating trade tensions. China’s Ministry of Commerce said it will levy tariffs of up to 78.2 per cent on certain US fibre optic imports starting September 4, targeting G.654.C fibre used in long-haul and undersea networks, reported Caixin. Corning…
New IAPH / WCO guidelines
12.09.2025 The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the World Customs organization (WCO) have released revised guidelines on cooperation between customs and port authorities. First launched in 2023, the new edition adds input from the World Shipping Council and focuses on closer public-private collaboration. The release coincided with a WCO conference…
Adani turns away sanctioned tankers from its ports in India
Sam ChambersSeptember 12, 2025 Adani Adani India’s largest private port operator, Adani Group, has banned entry of tankers that are sanctioned by the US, UK or the European Union, according to multiple local media outlets. Adani’s port footprint in India is more focused on containers and dry bulk than tankers with analysts suggesting the news…
Mexico pushes 50% tariff on China-built cars
Adis AjdinSeptember 12, 2025 BYD BYD Mexico is preparing to more than double tariffs on cars from China and several other Asian countries, with duties rising from 20% to 50% under a proposal sent to Congress by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The draft bill, expected to pass given the government’s majority, would take effect 30 days…
CMA CGM rules out surcharge ahead of US fees on Chinese tonnage
Sam ChambersSeptember 11, 2025 Port of Los Angeles Port of Los Angeles France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest containerline, has told clients it is fully prepared for next month’s hiked port fees in the US for Chinese-linked tonnage, and that it does not envisage implementing surcharges because of the new ruling. In April, the US…
US State Department Expresses Concern Over Ban of Israeli Shipments in Spanish Ports, Airspace
September 10, 2025 © Adobe Stock/Vitaly A U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed concern on Wednesday over Spain’s measures limiting access to Spanish ports and airspace to ships and planes carrying weapons for Israel. “It is deeply concerning that Spain, a NATO member, has chosen to potentially limit U.S. operations and to turn its back on…
Spain bans ships linked to Israeli military as dockworkers vow to support Global Sumud Flotilla
Published on 10-09-2025 at 09:09 Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, La Moncloa/Spanish Government Shipping under growing strain as Spain bans ships carrying fuel for the Israeli military and Italian dockworkers pledge Europe-wide port action if Gaza aid flotilla is blocked. The Spanish government has announced a ban on all ships carrying fuel intended for the…
China carriers adjust tactics ahead of US port fees
Chinese shipping firms are reshaping fleet deployments and leaning on global alliances to reduce exposure to US ports, as Washington prepares to impose steep new fees on Chinese-linked vessels in October, reported Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. The levies, aimed at curbing China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, are prompting carriers such as Cosco Shipping…