US port fees to deal unexpected blow to car shippers

Docking charges on foreign-built vessels could add up to over $1m per ship

20250425N Car imports

New vehicles wait to be loaded onto a car carrier at a port in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)

HIROFUMI KANAOKA, TOMONORI WASHIDA and RYOHEI YASOSHIMA

TOKYO/WASHINGTON -- A new fee schedule planned for foreign-made carriers docking at U.S. ports is poised to create a new trade barrier that dents auto imports.

The port fees are based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorizes measures against unreasonable trade practices. The April 17 notice from the Office of the United States Trade Representative expands on an original proposal targeting Chinese-built ships.

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