US proposes extending pause on port fees for Chinese ships through January
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) proposed on October 23 a two-month extension of the suspension of its Section 301 measures targeting China's maritime and shipbuilding sectors. The current pause expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 9, 2026; under the proposal, it would run from November 10, 2026, through January 9, 2027.
The suspension covers US port-call fees on Chinese-owned, -operated, or -built vessels and on certain foreign-built car carriers, as well as duties on ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment. USTR says it wants more time to negotiate with China.
The notice is published in the Federal Register on October 26 (document 2026-21755), and comments are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on October 30 on USTR's portal, docket USTR-2026-0694. The extension becomes final only when USTR issues its decision.
