China announced on Friday that it would impose “special” duties on American ships in its ports, in retaliation for measures announced in April by the United States.
These rights will apply starting next Tuesday to ships owned by American companies, those chartered by American companies and those built in the United States, the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement.
These ships that arrive in China will have to pay an amount of 400 yuan (48 euros) per net ton. The price will increase to 640 yuan (78 euros) next April, before increasing each year.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Transportation called Beijing’s move “a legitimate measure to protect the legal rights and interests of Chinese shipping companies.”
These “special port rates” will be applied to each trip made to China, and not to each stopover if the ship makes several in China, without exceeding five rates per year, the Ministry of Transportation specified.
This measure will come into force on the same day as a similar one decided by the US authorities.
The latter will charge fees to ships built or operated by Chinese companies that dock in the United States. This US initiative is a consequence of an investigation initiated under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Source: BFM TV
