Cross-border e-commerce sellers facing rising logistics costs may encounter new challenges as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implements additional fees targeting Chinese shipping vessels. While these regulations present immediate cost pressures, they may also accelerate industry transformation.
On October 3, CBP announced that starting October 14, 2025, specific vessels entering U.S. ports will be subject to new Section 301 vessel fees. The fee structure includes:
- Chinese-owned or operated vessels: $50 per net ton
- Chinese-built vessels: $18 per net ton or $120 per TEU (whichever is higher)
- Car carriers/Ro-Ro vessels: $14 per net ton
The policy requires payment at least three working days before port arrival, with non-compliance resulting in loading/unloading restrictions or delayed clearance. This effectively increases port costs for all China-to-U.S. container shipments, particularly affecting automotive parts and oversized cargo.
Economic Implications
While labeled as "port service fees," the policy effectively extends Section 301 trade measures to maritime transport. The dual fee structure for Chinese-built vessels and car carriers will likely increase ocean freight rates significantly.
A single port call by a Chinese-built 3,000-TEU vessel could incur over $360,000 in additional fees, costs that will ultimately transfer through supply chains to sellers and consumers. This comes as global shipping rates had begun stabilizing after previous surges.
The policy may increase U.S.-route logistics costs by 10-20%, creating particular challenges for:
- Full-container-load shippers: Profit margins will shrink substantially per shipment
- Automotive parts sellers: Combined Ro-Ro fees and new charges will disproportionately impact already low-margin products
- Small-medium sellers: Increased replenishment costs may strain cash flow and warehouse operations
Industry Adaptation
The cost increases will propagate through logistics chains—transportation, warehousing, delivery, and returns—forcing sellers to either raise prices or exit markets. However, the changes may accelerate three strategic shifts:
- Localization: Leveraging U.S.-based inventory to bypass international shipping fees
- Asset-light models: Adopting drop-shipping and platform-based fulfillment
- Technology integration: Implementing data-driven systems to optimize product matching and reduce returns
These structural changes reflect broader transformations in cross-border trade, where policy developments increasingly favor localized supply chains and technology-enabled operations over traditional shipping models.