US lays out plans to hit Chinese ships with port fees

The charges will start in 180 days and rise in the coming years.

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From mid-October, Chinese ship owners and operators will be charged $50 per ton of cargo with the fees increasing each year for the next three years.

There have been concerns that the measures would further disrupt global trade after US President Donald Trump's raft of tariff policies, but the fee is less severe than originally suggested.

A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said the fees will raise prices for American consumers and "will not revitalise the US shipbuilding industry".

The US Trade Representative (USTR) said: "China has largely achieved its dominance goals, severely disadvantaging US companies, workers, and the US economy".