High Seas Tensions: U.S. and China Escalate Trade War with Port Fees

The U.S. and China are intensifying their trade war by imposing additional port fees on shipping firms. China targets U.S.-linked vessels, excluding its own ships, while the U.S. plans similar charges on China-linked vessels. This move affects global freight and highlights the politicization of maritime commerce.

The maritime sector becomes the latest battlefield in the ongoing trade war between the United States and China as both countries announce new port fees on ocean shipping companies. These fees, set to impact holiday cargo and crude oil shipments, highlight growing tensions between the world's two largest economies.

In a strategic maneuver, China began imposing special charges on U.S.-linked vessels, with certain Chinese-built ships exempted. Meanwhile, the United States plans similar fees on Chinese-affiliated vessels by October 14, intending to challenge China's dominance in the global maritime industry.

The repercussions of these port fees threaten to disrupt global freight patterns, with key players like China-owned COSCO shouldering significant costs. This tit-for-tat approach has broadened the trade dispute into areas like environmental policy, marking a shift in how countries leverage maritime commerce in geopolitical strategies.

(With inputs from agencies.)