BY levying fees on ships owned, operated or built by China, America will not achieve its objective of creating its own merchant fleet, says a commentary in the state-owned China Daily.

"Charging hefty port fees for vessels that have already been built and delivered by China and are owned or operated by Chinese or non-Chinese entities is meaningless in terms of revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry," said Qi Bin's commentary.

"Although the US port fees are aimed at countering China's dominance in the shipbuilding industry, they will not lead to a renaissance in US shipbuilding.

"US shipyards face limited capacity and a lack of price competitiveness. A containership built in China costs approximately US$55 million, while a comparable US-made ship comes with a price tag of around $330 million.

China holds the position of the world's largest shipbuilder. According to Clarksons Research 66 per cent of all new ship orders placed 24 are awarded to Chinese shipyards, while the US accounted for a mere 0.1 percent.

In terms of shipbuilding output, China commands a 53-per cent market share, meaning that 53 per cent of all ships delivered globally in 2024 were manufactured in China.

From a practical perspective, the measure may disrupt global shipping and ultimately harm US customers and businesses more than it impacts China.

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