US unveils new port fees for Chinese-linked ships

Shipping containers parked at the Union Pacific Railroad intermodal facility which specializes in rail services for freight and passengers on April 16, 2025 in Commerce, California. [AFP]

The United States unveiled new port fees on Chinese-built and operated ships Thursday, in a bid to boost the domestic shipbuilding industry and curb China's dominance in the sector.

The move -- which stems from a probe launched under the prior administration -- comes as the United States and China are locked in a major trade war over President Donald Trump's tariffs and could further ratchet up tensions.