(MENAFN) China announced on Friday that, starting Tuesday, it will impose fees on US vessels docking at Chinese ports, responding directly to charges introduced by Washington on Chinese ships entering American harbors.

The Chinese Transport Ministry issued a statement condemning the US fees implemented this April, declaring they “seriously violate” the tenets of international trade and the China-US Maritime Shipping Agreement. The ministry added these charges are inflicting "serious damage" on maritime commerce between the two nations.

China’s tariff on US ships will be set at 400 yuan ($56) per net ton, slightly exceeding the $50 per net ton levied by the US on Chinese vessels. These fees are expected to increase over time.

According to the ministry, vessels will be liable for charges if they are owned or operated by entities where US stakeholders hold at least a 25% ownership stake. Additionally, ships constructed in the US or flying the American flag will be subject to these fees.

The US government introduced its fees on Chinese-built vessels in April, following a trade review by the Biden and Trump administrations. The review concluded that China’s policies and practices were irrational and imposed significant burdens on US trade.

Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) underscores China’s dominance in shipbuilding, accounting for 53.3% of global output, compared to the US’s negligible 0.1%.

This escalation follows Beijing’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earth elements—critical materials for technology, automotive, and military industries—and legal pressures on US tech giants ahead of looming trade negotiations.

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