The US port fees on China-linked vessels could stay suspended for another two months. On October 23, the US Trade Representative proposed extending the current suspension—set to expire November 9—through January 9, 2027. A broad coalition of maritime, agricultural, manufacturing, retail and logistics organizations welcomed the move in an October 30 letter to USTR Jamieson Greer, but urged Washington to go further and eliminate the fees permanently.
Signatories include the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Association of Port Authorities, the International Chamber of Shipping and the World Shipping Council, along with hundreds of other trade associations that depend on ocean transportation. The coalition argues the fees would add another layer of cost to supply chains already dealing with elevated freight rates, equipment shortages and trade uncertainty.
The letter notes that Chinese-built ships account for a significant share of global capacity, so the impact would extend beyond Chinese carriers to affect vessel deployments and transport costs for American importers and exporters. It also flags provisions targeting foreign-built roll-on/roll-off vessels, warning they could hit shipping companies from US allied nations and disrupt services relied on by American manufacturers.
For importers, the fees could mean higher transport surcharges and pricier consumer goods and industrial inputs. For exporters, including agricultural producers and manufacturers, they could make US products less competitive overseas. The coalition also questioned whether the fees would meaningfully rebuild US commercial shipbuilding, arguing that limited domestic capacity, workforce shortages and a lack of competitive alternatives remain unresolved. It called instead for a long-term shipbuilding strategy backed by sustained public and private investment.
The World Shipping Council separately told USTR it supports revitalizing American shipbuilding but believes legislative measures, government support and workforce development would be more effective than sweeping vessel fees.
On the other side, Senators Mark Kelly and Elizabeth Warren have urged the administration to reinstate the charges, arguing the suspension undermines efforts to rebuild US commercial shipbuilding capacity. Whether the suspension is extended depends on the proposed measure taking effect. For shippers moving cargo from China to the US, a reinstatement could push up first-mile costs on ocean-parcel and ocean-truck services as carriers pass on surcharges. As of November 2026, the fees remain suspended; official announcements should be treated as the final word.