U.S. and China suspend port fees

The United States and China have agreed to suspend their newly introduced port fees for one year, in a move widely seen as a signal of de-escalation in ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

According to a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce, Washington will postpone its planned port charges on Chinese-linked vessels until late 2026. In response, Beijing will halt its retaliatory “special port fees” on U.S.-affiliated ships for the same period.

The agreement follows talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, their first meeting since the reintroduction of reciprocal port fees on 14 October 2025.

This agreement reduces the financial burden on global maritime operators in the US and China (as well as ship owners associated with these countries) and simplifies route planning.