The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has welcomed reports that the US and China have agreed to suspend reciprocal port fees on each other’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries for one year.
ICS said it had been in discussions with both the US Trade Representative and the Chinese government since the start of the Section 301 investigation, and is now awaiting official confirmation and further details of the reported agreement.
The organisation called the development “a welcome and positive step,” noting that the US measures introduced on 14 October 2025, and China’s subsequent countermeasures, had already caused serious challenges and disruptions for the shipping industry and global trade.
While supporting efforts to boost US shipbuilding capacity, ICS said it was essential that global shipping be able to move trade freely and efficiently, adding that it remains committed to working with governments and international partners to avoid further trade disruptions.
