Insights

Clyde & Co’s Tariff Tracker: October edition

Insight Article 14 October 2025 14 October 2025
Global
Geopolitical outlook
Trade & Commodities

Clyde & Co’s Tariff Tracker provides an overview of all trade restrictions imposed or announced by the US and against the US. The tracker will be updated by our offices across the globe as new measures are introduced.

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The October updates on the tariff tracker including updates in US tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and any after-effects, are set out below.

14 October 2025

Retaliatory tariffs

On 14 October 2025, the China’s Ministry of Transport (CMOT) has announced the imposition of “Special Port Fees” on US vessels calling at Chinese ports.
We summarise the main measures introduced by CMOT’s announcement below:

Article 2 – The “Special Port Fees” are imposed on vessels calling at Chinese ports that meet any of the following conditions:

owned by US enterprises, organisations or individuals;
operated by US enterprises, organisations or individuals;
owned or operated by an entity in which a US party holds 25% of more of the equity, voting rights or board seats;
US-flagged;
Built in the US.

Article 3 – The “Special Port Fees” is a flat fee system, based on net tonnage:

RMB 400 per net ton, as from 14 October 2025 (roughly US$56 per net ton, at current rates);
RMB 640 per net ton, as from 17 April 2026 (US$ 90);
RMB 880 per net ton, as from 17 April 2027 (US$ 123);
RMB 1120 per net ton, as from 17 April 2028 (US$ 157).

Article 6 – Shipowners or agents must report the following at least 7 days before arrival (or upon departure from the previous port if the voyage is shorter):

In light of these “Special Port Fees”, shipowners or agents must report the following at least 7 days before arrival (or upon departure from the previous port if the voyage is shorter)

Vessel’s country of construction;
Flag state;
Owner;
Operator;
Lease agreements; and
Planned Chinese Port of Calls

When will the tariffs come into effect?

The “Special Port Fees” take effect from today (i.e.,14 October 2025)

13 October 2025

US tariffs

On 10 October 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced significant fees and modifications to its program of ‘responsive action’ in an effort to restore the US shipbuilding market.
The announcements are intended to target owners and operators of certain Chinese-built, owned or operated vessels calling at U.S. ports. From 14 October 2025, these vessel operators will be responsible for assessing and paying the new fees under Annexes I-III issued by the USTR, arising from the Section 301 Investigation into China’s Targeting the Maritime, Logistics and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance.
For full details of the measures introduced by the UTSR, please see the link to the articles prepared by the Clyde & Co team - USTR Section 301 Fee and Tariff Measures and Their Impact to Charterparties : Clyde & Co
The services fees introduced under Annexes I-III can be summarised as follows:

Annex I - Service Fees on Chinese Vessel Operators and Vessel Owners of China

For Chinese-owned or operated vessels arriving at a U.S. port, the vessel operator must pay $50 per net ton for the arriving vessel (October 14, 2025); $80 per net ton (April 17, 2026); $110 per net ton (April 17, 2027); and $140 per net ton (April 17, 2028).
The fee will be charged up to five times per year, per individual vessel.
Vessels which make multiple U.S. port calls before transiting to a foreign destination will have fees assessed per rotation or string of U.S. port calls.

Annex II - Service Fees on Vessel Operators of Chinese-Built Vessels

For Chinese-built vessels arriving at a U.S. port, the vessel operator must pay the higher of two fee calculation methods:
1. Per Net Ton: $18 per net ton (October 14, 2025); $23 per net ton (April 17, 2026); $28 (April 17, 2027); and $33 per net ton (April 17, 2028); or
2. Per Discharged Container: $120 per container (October 14, 2025); $153 per container (April 17, 2026); $195 per container (April 17, 2027); $250 per container (April 17, 2028).
The fee will be charged up to five times per year, per individual vessel, and vessels which make multiple U.S. port calls before transiting to a foreign destination will have fees assessed per rotation or string of U.S. port calls.
Annex II does introduce several exemptions, for example, relating to vessels participating in specific security programs.

Annex III - Service Fee on Vessel Operators of Foreign-Built Vehicle Carriers

For non-U.S. built vehicle carriers arriving at a U.S. port, the vessel operator must pay a fee in the amount of $14 per net ton for the arriving vehicle carrier.
Pursuant to “Targeted Coverage” provision of the June 6 proposals, fees will not attach to U.S.-owned or U.S.-flagged vessels enrolled in the Maritime Security Program; U.S. government vessels (as defined in the Annex); and vessels carrying U.S. government cargo.
Fees will attach to all non-U.S. built vehicle carriers, and Annex III also provides for limited fee suspensions.

When will the tariffs come into effect?