US urged to abandon hefty ship levies plan

$1.5 million fee on Chinese ships would harm global supply chain: Businesses

A coalition of US trade associations, shipping companies and businesses have urged the Office of the United States Trade Representative, or USTR, not to go ahead with a proposed $1.5 million fee on any Chinese-made ship that enters a US port.

More than 500 submissions were made to the Section 301 hearings on China "Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance", scheduled to be held in Washington on Monday and Wednesday.

Thomas R. Byrne, operations manager of East Coast Stevedoring Co, said in a submission: "The proposed service fee … threatens to have significant negative repercussions for the livelihoods of many Americans.