The U.S. will impose new fees on Chinese ships docking at American ports, but Cosco Shipping assures customers of stable service. Port fees start on Oct. 14, with an additional $50 per net ton charge for Chinese vessels. By April 17, 2026, carriers will pay an extra $30 per net ton annually.

Cosco Shipping says it will face operational challenges due to port service fees but remains confident in providing reliable services in the U.S. The company is enhancing its product portfolio to meet evolving demand but did not specify changes. It plans to maintain competitive rates and comply with U.S. laws.

Cosco Shipping and OOCL are projected to pay $2.1 billion in fines in 2026 due to the new fees. OOCL anticipates a significant impact on its business and plans to expand in Southeast Asia and South America. Cosco deploys 70 vessels on trans-Pacific services, with 18% of cargo volume on that trade lane.

The USTR’s investigation into China’s maritime practices led to the fees. Despite the fees, major ocean carriers do not expect significant impacts on service or revenue. Eight of the largest ocean carriers still have 566,000 TEUs of Chinese-built ship capacity in use to the U.S. Most carriers have not shifted capacity from the trans-Pacific trade lane.

The number of China-built ships sailing to the U.S. has decreased between May and August. The USTR reduced the fees from harsher penalties initially proposed in February. Some adjustments were made, including reduced fees for non-American auto carriers. The U.S.-China trade negotiations continue, with Presidents Trump and Xi expected to speak soon.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Cosco Confident in ‘Stable and Reliable’ Service Ahead of US Port Fees