🔔 Subscribe to ShipUniverse Weekly →
China's Ministry of Transport announced on November 9, 2026, that it will extend the suspension of special port fees on U.S.-linked vessels until January 10, 2027. The decision, approved by China's State Council and issued as Ministry of Transport Announcement No. 90 of 2026, also continues the suspension of an investigation into the effects of U.S. maritime measures on China's shipping, shipbuilding and related supply chains. The announcement covers three measures introduced in October 2025 and follows the U.S. Trade Representative's November 6 decision to extend its own maritime Section 301 measures suspension through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 9, 2027.
January 10 Is the New Deadline.
The Port Fee Is Still Frozen.
Chinese authorities have extended the suspension. Regular, unrelated port dues and other legitimate charges are not eliminated by this decision.
50,000 net tonnes multiplied by ¥640. This is a hypothetical fee calculation, not a current bill or a forecast that collection will restart.
How the two-month extension developed
Special vessel port charges
The original fee announcement covering qualifying U.S.-owned, U.S.-operated, U.S.-flagged and U.S.-built ships.
Fee implementation rules
Collection procedures, vessel documentation, chargeable voyages and the handling of qualifying exemptions.
Maritime supply-chain investigation
The inquiry into the effects of U.S. measures on Chinese shipping, shipbuilding and connected industrial supply chains.
Five Ways a Ship Could Qualify.
Several Ways It Could Be Exempt.
The original scheduled fee tiers
Per net tonne. Original initial fee tier, before the November 2025 suspension.
Per net tonne. Currently scheduled tier, but collection remains suspended.
Per net tonne. Future tier in the original, suspended regulations.
Per net tonne. Later planned tier, subject to any changes before enforcement.
Multiple Chinese ports on the same voyage did not multiply the charge. The original rule placed payment at the first Chinese port of call.
The original framework capped the levy at five voyages per vessel in a fee year. The annual billing cycle starts April 17.
Original collection rules required advance vessel information, including build country, flag, owner, operator and itinerary. Those special fee procedures are suspended.
The two sides paused different measures
U.S.-Linked Ships
Suspends special ship port fees, their implementing measures and China's investigation into impacts on maritime and shipbuilding supply-chain security.
China-Linked Maritime Services
Extends specified Section 301 maritime transport fee suspensions and selected duties on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment. The underlying U.S. and Chinese measures are not identical.
What Could China's Suspended
Ship Fee Have Cost Your Fleet?
Set the vessel and voyage assumptions
Values are illustrative. No actual ship, port invoice or confirmed future reinstatement is modeled.
The suspended Chinese rules do not currently impose the modeled special port surcharge. Ordinary port charges and unrelated fees are excluded.
Certified NT multiplied by the selected original fee tier, if eligible.
Across chargeable voyages, applying the five-voyage limit.
Using the user-selected exchange-rate assumption.
Original five-voyage annual maximum, subject to eligibility.
The fee calculation
Theoretical amounts only, based on the suspended 2025 framework.
Four original rate-tier sensitivities
All bars update for the selected net tonnage, eligibility and chargeable voyages. Their historical rate dates are not assumed reinstatement dates.
Methodology and regulatory boundaries
Hypothetical per-voyage fee = certified vessel net tonnage × selected original fee rate in RMB per NT. Annual chargeable voyages = min(qualifying voyages, 5), subject to exemption and eligibility. Total hypothetical charge = per-voyage fee × chargeable voyages. Each separate voyage is charged once, regardless of multiple Chinese port calls on the same voyage.
Original eligibility categories are simplified into a single selected connection. Chinese-built vessels are treated as exempt for categories 1–4; U.S.-built vessels cannot qualify for the Chinese-built exemption. Repair-only ballast calls are modeled as exempt. Other discretionary exemptions are not independently assessed.
Current rule: China's November 9, 2026 Announcement No. 90 continues the suspension until January 10, 2027. The hypothetical rates shown here do not represent a bill payable during that period or a prediction that any levy will resume. The 2027 and 2028 amounts are rate tiers in the original suspended rules and could be modified by future policy decisions.
Limitations: This tool does not determine a real ship's nationality, beneficial owners, operator, net tonnage certificate, exemption status or compliance obligations. It excludes ordinary port charges, agency fees, cargo tariffs and U.S. Section 301 charges. The currency conversion is illustrative and not sourced from a live market. Actual liability would depend on the rules and official determinations in force on the relevant vessel-call date.
We welcome your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas for enhancements.
Please click here to get in touch