Beijing’s Playbook: Five countermeasures to US Port fees

As Washington’s unprecedented docking fees on Chinese-linked vessels loom just 11 days away, Beijing faces a strategic crossroads that could reshape global maritime trade.

The October 18 implementation of the US Trade Representative’s port fee structure represents the most aggressive economic offensive yet against China’s shipbuilding dominance.

With Beijing controlling 53% of global shipbuilding capacity and foreign buyers accounting for nearly 70% of Chinese yard production, the stakes extend far beyond bilateral tensions.