China reciprocates USTR fee after amending its Maritime regulations

Image credit – Artificial Intelligence

The USTR proposed service will be applicable on Chinese ships from 14th October 2025, we have mentioned the details in our earlier blog. In response to it China has started reciprocating the charges by amending its Maritime regulatory Framework of 2001, Since last 24 years the maritime regulation has been amended only 5 times.

An Amendment has been done in end of Sept’ 2025 to counter the USA USTR proposal for penalizing Chinese built and operated ships.

The amendment includes below points

• Reciprocal Fee – It allows China to impose fee on specific vessels of specific countries

• Restrict ships to access Chinese ports

• Punishment in case information is not disclosed – The shipping lines should give the required information to Chinese government before berthing at Chinese ports, failing which the Chinese government can impose punishment fee ranging from USD 2,800 to 14,000 per ship.

The amendment was approved by Premier Li Qiang for immediate effects.

Through this amendment China has given a clear message to USA and this war might lead again to tariff escalation on different products as happened during first half this year.

What we need to monitor is USTR response and notices posted till 14th October 2025. China has already taken a calculated action. China might have an upper hand in maritime commercial ship building & is the largest exporter globally but still America is the having strongest navy and is the largest importer globally.