New U.S. Tariff Threatens Global Auto Trade

A newly proposed port fee by the United States could jeopardize the country’s automobile import sector, potentially impacting up to $150 billion in trade, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Shipping operators transporting vehicles now find themselves entangled in an escalating trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. Under the new policy, car carriers arriving at U.S. ports will face a $150 charge per vehicle. The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office announced in April that the fee would apply to all vessels not constructed in the United States, a move that has alarmed shipping companies across Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO of logistics firm Wallenius Wilhelmsen, told FT that these additional charges will ultimately be passed on to car manufacturers and, eventually, consumers. He noted that the uncertainty surrounding the policy is already causing production delays, hesitation in strategic planning, and interruptions in the supply of vehicles and parts.

Last year, the global value of seaborne vehicle trade reached nearly $600 billion, with 836 specialized vessels facilitating this movement. The World Shipping Council estimates that the new fee will cost a large car carrier transporting up to 8,000 vehicles around $1.2 million per trip.

According to shipping consultancy Clarksons Research, 29 million vehicles were transported by sea in 2024, with 4.6 million destined for the United States.

Targeting Chinese-Built Ships

The U.S. is also introducing a tiered levy specifically aimed at ships built in China, set to begin in October and increase gradually through 2028. Starting October 14, vessels built and owned by Chinese entities will be charged $50 per net ton (approximately 2.83 cubic meters). This rate will rise by $30 annually, reaching $140 per ton by 2028.

For Chinese-built ships owned by foreign companies, the charge will be assessed either per net ton or per container—whichever results in a higher fee. Initially, the rate will be $18 per net ton, increasing by $5 each year until it hits $33 in April 2028. Container-based charges will start at $120 per unit and grow incrementally to $250 over the same period.