AAPA Proposes Alternative Policies to USTR

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has submitted another round of comments to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office on additional modifications to its proposed Section 301 policy actions.

The AAPA acknowledged the recently announced China trade truce and commends the Trump Administration "for the collaborative approach it has taken to reach an agreement on a one-year suspension of the shipping fees and tariffs stemming from this Section 301 investigation."

All fees and tariffs associated with the Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime and shipbuilding practices have been suspended for one year. These include fees on Chinese-owned, operated, and built vessels; fees on foreign-built vehicle carriers; tariffs on ship-to-shore (STS) cranes; and the proposal to add tariffs to other Chinese cargo handling equipment.

The American port industry is relieved to see these fees and tariffs suspended for one year. This pause will allow the industry to continue delivering the cargo and passengers that power the American economy. “We urge the Trump Administration to continue negotiations to ensure that these policies are not reimposed in one