The U.S. government announcement clarifies that starting from October 14, a fee of $50 per net ton will be imposed on ships owned or operated by Chinese entities; a fee of $14 per net ton on all foreign-built car carriers and roll-on/roll-off ships; and for China-built ships, the higher of either $18 per net ton or $120 per discharged container will be applied. LNG carriers, U.S. Maritime Security Program ships, and others are exempt.

Vessel operators must pay relevant fees before the ship first enters a U.S. port from outside the customs territory. The authorities strongly recommend that operators initiate the payment process at least three working days before arrival and complete the payment via the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s official website, Pay.gov. Ships that fail to complete payment or lack valid vouchers will face risks such as denial of loading/unloading, delayed release, or even suspension of customs clearance.

It is estimated that this measure will add $3.2 billion in costs to the world’s top 10 liner companies in 2026, with COSCO Shipping and OOCL jointly bearing nearly 50% of the total. It may also push up China-U.S. maritime transportation costs and trigger issues such as supply chain disruptions.