ports

Agricultural Shippers Warn Port Taxes on Chinese Vessels Could Devastate Farm Exports

Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Elizabeth Warren are pushing the Trump administration to reinstate port fees on Chinese cargo ships, a move that threatens to undermine U.S. agricultural producers, according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.

The fees, implemented earlier this year following a U.S. Trade Representative investigation into unfair Chinese maritime practices, were suspended until November after industry pushback. The White House had already exempted empty vessels arriving to load farm and other bulk shipments after exporters protested the charges.

AgTC warned that reinstating the taxes would dramatically increase shipping costs and put large segments of U.S. agriculture out of business by limiting export capacity. The group said USTR proposals were unrealistic and that compliance would be impossible for many operators.

A March study by Trade Partnership Worldwide documented the fees' impact. The analysis was included in a letter signed by 277 trade associations opposing the tariffs.