China keeps special port fee on US-linked ships suspended until 10 January 2027

China's Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) issued Announcement No. 90 of 2026 (交通运输部公告2026年第90号) on 9 November. According to the text, to implement the outcomes of the eighth round of China–US economic and trade consultations, and with State Council approval, China will keep three 2025 measures suspended until 10 January 2027: Announcement No. 54, which created the special port fee on US-linked ships; the fee's implementing rules (交办水〔2025〕59号); and Announcement No. 55, which opened an investigation into effects on the security and interests of shipping, shipbuilding and related supply chains.

The fee was created in October 2025, after the Office of the US Trade Representative announced, in April 2025, charges from 14 October on ships owned or operated by Chinese companies, flying the Chinese flag or built in China, under the Section 301 investigation into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. Under Announcement No. 54, from 14 October 2025 China charged, per voyage, RMB 400 per net ton on ships owned or operated by US companies, organisations or individuals; by firms with 25% or more US ownership (equity, voting rights or board seats); flying the US flag; or built in the US. The rate was set to rise in steps to RMB 1,120 per net ton from April 2028, charged only at the first Chinese port of each voyage and for no more than five voyages per ship per year.

On 10 November 2025, Announcement No. 60 of 2025 suspended the same three measures for one year from 13:01, in step with the US suspension of the final measures of its Section 301 investigation. The 2026 notice sets an explicit end date, 10 January 2027, and does not repeat the reference to the US measure.

The same day, the State Council Tariff Commission extended by two months, from 10 November, the suspension of 24% of the additional tariff on US-origin goods, keeping 10% in force. That notice gives no end date; 10 January 2027 matches CSP's count for the two months.

CSP analysis: for importers and exporters using ships with US ownership, operation, flag or construction on China routes, nothing changes right away: the fee stays suspended. What changes is the horizon. Anyone negotiating freight or charter contracts with China port calls after 10 January 2027 should allow for the fee coming back, and check with the carrier whether the vessel meets the Announcement No. 54 criteria. This reading is ours, not the Chinese government's.