During a seminar held in Singapore hosted by the Association of Maritime International Commercial Interests & Expertise (AMICIE), panelists discussed the challenges of navigating geopolitical risks in international trade and shipping.
SeaLead Singapore’s Chief Operations Officer, Chow Kitwei, was asked about the potential impact of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) proposal to levy tariffs up to $1.5 million on China-made ships entering U.S. ports.
Chow highlighted that the measures would have a disproportionate impact on smaller U.S. ports. While major hubs like New York, New Jersey, and Long Beach could absorb the cost, smaller ports like Jacksonville, where carriers handle smaller volumes of cargo, would face significantly higher costs per container. The financial pressures could compel carriers to rethink their service structures, possibly leading to fewer ship calls at these smaller ports.
Chow said the upcoming U.S. port fee policy will reshape how carriers design their service routes, prompting changes in ship size, and fleet composition for U.S.-bound trades. He also predicted a short-term surge in trade before the tariffs take effect. In the long-term, he expects reduced efficiency and lower overall volumes.
Source: SeaTrade Maritime
