07:36 AM EDT, 10/10/2025 (MT Newswires) -- China's ministry of transport said Friday it will impose a special port fee on ships with US ties, effective Oct. 14.

The charges will total 400 Chinese renminbi ($56.16) per metric ton of goods carried, increasing to 640 renminbi in six months, 880 renminbi in 2027, and 1,120 renminbi in 2028.

The penalties on ships owned, partially owned, operated, built, or flagged by the US is in retaliation for port fees imposed on China's maritime and shipbuilding industry, also set to begin Oct. 14, the ministry said.

China said the US fee imposition "seriously violates the relevant principles of international trade and the China-US Maritime Shipping Agreement, and causes serious damage to maritime trade between China and the US," according to a Google translation of the statement.