U.S. Ag Groups Sound Alarm on Trump's Chinese Ship Fees

Agricultural organizations are sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s proposal to charge $1 million or more in fees on Chinese ship companies or Chinese-built vessels.

This week the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is holding public hearings on the issue and more than 300 agricultural and business associations sent a letter of opposition to the USTR proposal because of the impact it would have on U.S. exports.

U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says increasing freight costs would place a particular burden on variety meat exports which equated to about $40 per steer or heifer slaughtered in 2024 and $10 per hog slaughtered.

He says some of our key export markets, such as Central America, are served by smaller, regional ships which would be hit harder by per port call fees.

To make matters worse, USMEF says shippers have indicated they may eliminate service at the Port of Oakland which is key for U.S. red meat exports to Asia.

The fees are part of a Trump administration effort to revive shipbuilding in the United States, but maritime experts say it would take years of work to build more U.S. ships.

Source: USMEF