The United States government has taken steps to collect fees from Chinese ships. The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced a plan to collect fees based on net tonnage or container count from Chinese-based ship owners and operators of Chinese-built ships. The USTR statement mentioned actions being taken to address unreasonable actions, policies, and practices by China to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, as well as to restore American shipbuilding to its former state. It was noted that this announcement followed an investigation lasting approximately one year, during which public input was also sought. The statement outlined that new measures would be implemented in two phases, with no fees being applied for the first 180 days. After this period, Chinese ship owners and operators would be charged fees per US voyage based on net tonnage, and fees would also be collected from operators of Chinese-built ships based on net tonnage or container count, gradually increasing over time. The statement mentioned that in the second phase over the next 3 years, limited restrictions would be placed on the transportation of American-made liquefied natural gas (LNG) by foreign vessels to incentivize LNG carriers produced in the US, with these restrictions gradually increasing over a 22-year period. It was also stated that new customs tariffs on port equipment were being considered, with public input being requested on the matter. USTR representative Jamieson Greer emphasized the vital importance of ships and maritime transportation for America’s economic security and the free flow of trade. Greer expressed that the steps taken by the Trump administration would help to reverse China’s dominance, address threats to the US supply chain, and send a demand signal for American-made ships.