Ties between the United States and China came under fresh strain this week — with Beijing announcing plans to charge American ships for docking at its ports. The decision was taken as a direct response to fees imposed by Washington and dubbed a “serious violation” of international trading principles. China also launched an antitrust investigation into American semiconductor giant Qualcomm over its acquisition of Israeli Autotalks on Friday — mere weeks after it accused US AI chip maker Nvidia of violating Chinese anti-monopoly law. The recent developments may heighten tensions between the two countries as President Donald Trump prepares for a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The POTUS had announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs against most imports from more than 180 countries in April — triggering a ‘trade war’ with levies reaching up to 145% on certain goods. Washington and Beijing had reached an uneasy truce in May with multiple extensions pausing the massive tariffs till mid-November. The two leaders are expected to discuss the situation during their upcoming meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
China announces new charge for American ships
According to the announcement made on Friday, vessels owned or operated by American entities will have to pay a fee for docking in the country. The new rule will come into effect from October 14 — the same day that the United States is due to start imposing port fees on Chinese vessels. US ships will be subjected to a 400 yuan ($56) per net ton fee per voyage if they dock in China. The China’s Ministry of Transport said the fees would be applied on the same ship for a maximum of five voyages each year, and rise every year until 2028, when it would hike to 1,120 yuan ($157) per net ton.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport said on Friday that its special fees were “countermeasures” in response to “wrongful” US practices. It also slammed the US port fees as a “discriminatory” measure that would “severely damage the legitimate interests of China’s shipping industry” and “seriously undermine” the international economic and trade order. The port fees announced by Beijing on Friday mirror many aspects of the US port fees on Chinese ships docking in American ports. Under Washington’s plans, Chinese-owned or -operated ships will be charged $50 per net ton for each voyage to the U.S., which would then rise by $30 per net ton each year until 2028. Each vessel would be charged no more than five times per year.
Qualcomm faces antitrust probe
The Chinese market regulator also announced the launch of an anti-trust probe against Qualcomm on Friday over its acquisition of an Israeli company. The State Administration for Market Regulation said the probe would look at whether Qualcomm violated China’s antitrust law by not lawfully declaring some details in its acquisition of the Israeli chip designer.