Retribution for the US port fees for Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships is already here, even before the fees come into effect. The main effect seems to be a restructuring of shipping services, rather than any actual fees being collected. Operators of liner routes are simply taking the Chinese-related ships off their US runs. Several liner carriers have announced that they propose no surcharges.
I think the most important effect of the Chinese declaration is going to be the loss of data and information about Chinese ports. Most large carriers call at Chinese ports on their loops. No data means a loss of accuracy on arrival times and dwell times at the ports. This will affect all shippers and supply chain partners, making predictions more difficult.
I’m afraid geopolitics will make ocean shipping, and perhaps all kinds of carriage, into a game in which advance knowledge is impossible. We already see some effects in the loss of information from AIS due to spoofing and turning off transmission because of sanctions.
Stuart Chirls Tuesday, September 30, 2025
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/china-could-bar-u-s-service-ships-in-new-maritime-dispute-volley
