Trump warns China of 'massive' tariffs, China hits US with port fees
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Trump signals higher tariffs on Chinese imports as China imposes new port fees on US vessels, heightening US-China trade tensions.
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US President Donald Trump waves as he departs on Air Force One at Republic Airport, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, NY (AP)
US President Donald Trump on Friday said there was no reason to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping in two weeks in South Korea as originally planned, adding in a Truth Social post that the United States is preparing to impose a significant increase in tariffs on Chinese imports while reassessing the broader trade relationship between the two countries.
"Some very strange things are happening in China! They are becoming very hostile," Trump claimed.
In his TruthSocial post, Trump said that China is sending letters to countries around the globe expressing its intent to impose restrictions on "each and every element" connected to rare earth metals. He said that the move would "clog" the markets and "make life difficult for virtually every Country in the World, especially for China."
He claimed the US was contacted by other countries that expressed anger over what he called "this great Trade hostility," which he claimed came out of nowhere.
He noted that one action his administration is considering is adding a large increase on tariffs imposed on Chinese products being imported to the US, while hinting at further measures being "under serious consideration."
Starting October 14, ships built in China or owned or operated by Chinese companies will be required to pay a fee at their first US port of call, with charges that could exceed $1 million for vessels carrying over 10,000 containers and may continue to rise each year through 2028, according to analysts.
China hits back at US with fees on US ships
Meanwhile, China’s Transport Ministry announced on Friday that starting Tuesday, vessels owned or operated by US companies or individuals, as well as those built in the United States or flying the US flag, will face additional port fees for each voyage.
The Ministry stated that the new port fees serve as a countermeasure to the forthcoming US charges imposed on Chinese vessels.
It described the US fees on Chinese vessels as discriminatory, affirming that it "severely damages the legitimate interests of China's shipping industry, seriously disrupts the stability of the global supply chain, and seriously undermines the international economic and trade order."
In a separate statement issued later on Friday, Beijing’s Trade Ministry said the Chinese countermeasures were taken in “justified” self-defense intended to protect fairness within the global shipping and shipbuilding markets.
For US vessels docking at Chinese ports starting October 14, the Chinese Transport Ministry said the rate will be set at 400 yuan ($56.13) per net metric ton, rising to 640 yuan ($89.81) from April 17, 2026, and further to 880 yuan ($123.52) from April 17, 2027. For ships arriving at Chinese ports on or after April 17, 2028, the fee will be set at 1,120 yuan ($157.16) per net metric ton.
Analysts estimate that under the new US measures, fees could exceed $1 million for a ship carrying more than 10,000 containers and may continue to rise each year through 2028, with vessels owned or operated by Chinese entities required to pay a flat rate of $80 per net tonnage for each voyage to the United States.
