On Friday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced changes to the measures introduced by the Washington government to promote development of the American shipbuilding industry, which were presented on the last April ( of 10 April 2025), soliciting comments on these Variations imposing additional duties of 100% on port cranes ship-to-shore produced by China, compared to a current rate 25%, and duties of up to 150% on other equipment for the handling of goods made in China, including rubber tire gantry cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes, automatic staking cranes, reachstackers, straddle carriers, terminal tractors, top handlers and parts of these vehicles. The additional duties will come into force on November 9th, eight days after the application of the new duties 100% on all imports from China decided by the president Donald Trump.

In addition, the USTR announced a $46 fee for net tonne on foreign-built car carriers call at U.S. ports that will come into force tomorrow. Previously the amount had been set at $150 per unit carrying capacity of ships measured in CAR equivalent unit and in June the USTR announced that it would proposed amendments to this tariff ( of 18 April and 9 June 2025

Finally, a provision that allowed the suspension of natural gas export licences liquefied in case of non-compliance with certain restrictions to the use of ships built abroad and has been included in the a derogation from the tariffs for ships carrying ethane and Liquefied petroleum gas with long charter agreement term.

Communicating that the deadline for submitting comments is next November 12, the USTR has specified that the Payment of some fees may be deferred until 10 December.