TARIFF TRACKER
USTR proposes Section 301 fees and vessel rules tied to China maritime dominance
USTR requests comments on proposed Section 301 service fees on certain maritime transport operators and proposed restrictions requiring portions of U.S. goods exports by vessel to move on U.S.-flagged or U.S.-built vessels. No HTS-based import tariff is imposed in this notice.
Updated October 12, 2026
STATUS
Replaced
·
Section 301
RATE
Up to $1,500,000
Proposed service fees up to $1,000,000 per vessel entrance, up to $1,000 per net ton, or up to $1,500,000 for Chinese-built vessel entrances, depending on the option.
COUNTRIES
China
PRODUCT FAMILIES
All goods
COVERED GOODS
No HTS headings are listed. The proposed action covers certain maritime transport services involving vessel operators of China, Chinese-built vessels, prospective orders for Chinese vessels, LOGINK-related actions, and international maritime transport of U.S. goods exported by vessel.
EXCLUSIONS
The proposal includes possible fee refunds up to $1,000,000 per entry for U.S.-built vessels and possible approval to export on a non-U.S.-built vessel if the operator demonstrates at least 20 percent of covered U.S. products will move on U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built ships.
WHAT TO DO (OUR GUIDANCE, NOT LEGAL ADVICE)
Check whether your ocean carriers use Chinese operators, Chinese-built vessels, or Chinese shipyard orders, and whether your U.S. exports by vessel could be affected by proposed U.S.-flagged or U.S.-built vessel requirements. The notice set deadlines of March 10, 2025 for hearing requests and March 24, 2025 for written comments.
SOURCES
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE notice, 90 FR 10843 (February 27, 2025)
QUOTES FROM THE SOURCE
Rate: "at a rate of up to $1,000,000 per entrance of any vessel of that operator to a U.S. port; or (b) per entrance of any vessel of that operator to a U.S. port, at a rate of up to $1,000 per net ton" (source)
Rate: "Upon the entrance of a Chinese-built vessel to a U.S. port, a fee to be charged to that vessel's operator on the international maritime transport provided via that vessel (a) at a rate of up to $1,500,000" (source)
Covered goods: "USTR proposes to take action against certain services of China and also action on a nondiscriminatory basis on certain services, including those supplied using Chinese goods." (source)
Covered goods: "The international maritime transport of all U.S. goods, such as capital goods, consumer goods, agricultural products, and chemical, petroleum, or gas products, must comply with the following schedule:" (source)
Countries: "China's targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce" (source)
Exclusions: "may be refunded, on a calendar year basis, in an amount up to $1,000,000 per entry into a U.S. port of a U.S.-built vessel" (source)
Exclusions: "may be approved for export on a non-U.S.-built vessel provided the operator providing international maritime transport services demonstrates that at least 20 percent of U.S. products" (source)
Signed: "Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 38 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)" (source)
Awaiting check
Quotes matched to source text by machine; awaiting human check.
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