NDSU Report Projects Rising Export Costs for U.S. Agriculture Under New Port Fees

A new policy report from the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at NDSU projects significant increases in shipping costs for U.S. agricultural exporters due to new federal port fees targeting Chinese-operated and Chinese-built vessels.

The report, Assessing the Costs to Agricultural Exporters of Section 301 Annex 1 and 2 Fees, analyzes the final determination issued by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in April 2025 under Section 301 of the Trade Act. The policy imposes phased-in port entry fees on foreign vessels operated by Chinese entities or built in Chinese shipyards as part of a broader response to industrial subsidies and trade distortions in China’s maritime sector.