China Suspends Port Fees On U.S.-Linked Vessels For A Year Following Trade Truce

China has announced a one-year suspension of special port fees imposed on U.S.-linked vessels, following Washington’s move to pause similar levies on Chinese ships.

The decision, effective from 13:01 Beijing time (05:01 GMT) on Monday, 10 November 2025, is seen as a key step in easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

According to China’s Ministry of Transport, the State Council approved the suspension following outcomes from the U.S.-China trade talks held in Kuala Lumpur. The ministry said the measure would take effect “simultaneously” with Washington’s pause on its own fees.

The port fees, first introduced on 14 October, were part of retaliatory trade actions under the U.S. “Section 301” investigation, which targeted China’s shipbuilding industry. Both countries had imposed reciprocal duties that disrupted trade routes and added pressure to global shipping networks.

The suspension follows a meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in South Korea late last month, where both sides agreed to ease certain trade restrictions.

The White House later said on November 1 that the U.S. would pause its port fees from 10 November as part of efforts to boost cooperation with South Korea and Japan and support American shipbuilding.

Shipping companies have welcomed the development. Maersk said the suspension would provide “greater visibility, certainty and stability” in supply chains. Athens-based Xclusiv Shipbrokers noted that the timing was positive for the maritime industry.

The shipbroker added that the resumption of long-haul U.S. soybean shipments to China, another outcome of recent talks, is expected to boost demand for dry bulk carriers. The absence of this trade route in recent months had reduced nearly 200 voyages, affecting bulk shipping capacity.

In a separate statement on Monday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a one-year suspension of sanctions against five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean.

The sanctions, originally imposed in October, had accused the companies of cooperating with Washington’s Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime industry.

The suspended entities include Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC and HS USA Holdings Corp.

A planned investigation into whether the Section 301 probe affected the security and development interests of China’s shipbuilding sector has also been postponed for one year.

On 5 November, Beijing extended the suspension of additional tariffs on U.S. goods, maintaining them at 10%, and paused certain tariffs on American agricultural exports, including soybeans.

China has also lifted export bans on gallium, germanium and antimony, critical metals for technology and defence manufacturing, alongside a one-year suspension on restrictions related to rare earth technology exports.

In return, Washington agreed to pause export controls for one year on affiliates of blacklisted foreign companies where it holds at least a 50% ownership stake.

References: Reuters, SCMP

Source: Maritime Shipping News