10-Week Countdown: U.S.–China Reciprocal Port Fee Suspension Nears Expiration

The one-year suspension of reciprocal U.S.–China port fees is approaching its end, with only around 10 weeks remaining before the arrangement is scheduled to expire. The temporary suspension began on November 10, 2025, following trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing, and is currently set to end on November 9, 2026, unless both sides reach a new agreement.

If no new arrangement is reached before the deadline, reciprocal port fee measures affecting vessels linked to China and the United States could resume. The dispute originated from a U.S. Trade Representative Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act of 1974, which targeted China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors and led to additional port charges on certain China-related vessels.

China subsequently introduced corresponding countermeasures targeting certain U.S.-linked vessels, creating additional cost concerns for carriers operating across major transpacific trade lanes. The temporary suspension has provided the shipping industry with a period of stability, but its approaching expiration is bringing renewed attention to potential changes in vessel deployment, operating costs and China–U.S. ocean freight rates.

For importers, exporters and freight forwarders involved in China–U.S. shipping, the coming weeks will be an important period for monitoring policy developments and carrier announcements. While ordinary container shipments are not directly restricted by the measures, renewed port charges could indirectly affect freight rates, capacity allocation and shipping schedules, making early planning increasingly important for businesses managing transpacific supply chains.