France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest containerline, has told clients it is fully prepared for next month’s hiked port fees in the US for Chinese-linked tonnage, and that it does not envisage implementing surcharges because of the new ruling.
In April, the US Trade Representative detailed plans to start charging China-linked tonnage calling at US ports from the October 14 this year, in a bid to both curb China’s dominance in the field of shipbuilding as well as boost domestic shipyard capabilities. The final rules remain unpublished. Customs & Border Protection is working on a collection system
CMA CGM said yesterday it has been rejigging its fleet to ensure it will be ready for the new rules, telling clients: “Despite the challenges this new service fee may create for our operations, based on the current structure and applicability of the service fee, CMA CGM does not plan to implement a surcharge at this time to cover USTR-related fees as currently structured.”
Some of CMA CGM’s partners in the Ocean Alliance – COSCO and OOCL – face greater hurdles come October 14 with transport analysts at HSBC recently suggesting the two Chinese carriers could face a combined bill of more than $2.1bn in 2026.
Maersk, meanwhile, has publicly stated it will look to avoid putting any Chinese-built ships onto the US trade, something it expects its competitors to follow suit.
Global shipping, not just the container sector, is realigning fleets in anticipation of October’s extra port fees to be levied by the US on China-linked tonnage.
This is already being reflected in chartering decisions for transatlantic tanker and dry bulk fixtures with Chinese-built tonnage shifting to other parts of the globe.
