ICS cautions the US against imposing higher port fees on foreign-built ships, highlighting potential trade disruptions and increased costs.
Warning from ICS Regarding the US's New Port Fee Plan
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has warned the Washington administration against the US's plans to revitalize the domestic shipbuilding sector by charging higher port fees on foreign-built vessels.
The long-awaited Maritime Action Plan (MAP) of the Trump administration has brought back the controversial proposal to impose a fee per kilogram on imported cargo transported by foreign-built ships.
According to the 36-page plan, which is still in the proposal stage, a universal infrastructure or security fee will be applied to all foreign-built commercial vessels arriving at US ports, calculated based on the weight of the imported cargo carried on board. The plan models a fee range of $0.01 to $0.25 per kilogram; it is stated that this could generate approximately $66 billion in revenue over about 10 years, and in the highest scenario, revenue could approach $1.5 trillion. These figures are significantly higher than the port fees that were temporarily implemented in 2025.
In a statement made by ICS, it was noted that the proposed fees would impose a 'significant' additional cost burden on maritime transport. The organization warned, 'Such measures risk disrupting trade, increasing costs for consumers and businesses in the US, hindering the smooth flow of global trade, and triggering retaliatory measures.'
The plan has also sparked debate within the industry. One industry observer pointed out that the implementation effectively means an additional tax on imported cargo, which could lead to increased costs in the short term and may contradict political goals due to the need for foreign labor in shipbuilding in the US.
Last year, the US temporarily implemented higher port fees on China-linked vessels, which led to a swift retaliation from Beijing.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
