(ZeroHedge)—The Trump administration announced plans on Thursday to impose new port fees on Chinese commercial vessels—part of a broader effort to revive America’s dwindling shipbuilding industry, which officials now view as a national security risk amid the urgent need to bolster hemispheric defense across the Americas in an increasingly fractured, bipolar world.
“Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer wrote in a statement, adding, “The Trump administration’s actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the U.S. supply chain, and send a demand signal for U.S.-built ships.”
The Federal Register notice titled “Notice of Action and Proposed Action in Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance, Request for Comments,” published Thursday by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), states that new fees will be imposed on all Chinese-built and Chinese-owned ships docking at ports across America. These fees will be based on net tonnage or the volume of goods carried per voyage and will only be charged once per voyage and not per port arrival.
“The fee will be set at $0 for the first 180 days, will then be set at $50/NT, and will increase incrementally over the next three years,” the USTR notice read.
Service Fee on Chinese Vessel Operators and Vessel Owners of China (courtesy of CNBC):
- Effective as of April 17, 2025, a fee in the amount of $0 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
- Effective as of October 14, 2025, a fee in the amount of $50 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
- Effective as of April 17, 2026, a fee in the amount of $80 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
- Effective as of April 17, 2027, a fee in the amount of $110 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
- Effective as of April 17, 2028, a fee in the amount of $140 per net ton for the arriving vessel.
The USTR notice explained that “any such fee would be charged per rotation or string of U.S. port calls, and no more than five times a year on an individual vessel.”
Service fees for vessel operators of Chinese-built vessels are lower.
- Effective as of April 17, 2025, a fee in the amount of $0 for each container discharged.
- Effective as of October 14, 2025, a fee in the amount of $18 per net ton ($120 per container)
- Effective as of April 17, 2026, a fee in the amount of $23 per net ton ($153 per container)
- Effective as of April 17, 2027, a fee in the amount of $28 per net ton ($195 per container)
- Effective as of April 17, 2028, a fee in the amount of $33 per net ton ($250 per container).
The second phase will begin in three years and target Chinese LNG vessels. USTR explained the purpose of this action:
“To incentivize U.S.-built liquified natural gas (LNG) vessels, limited restrictions on transporting LNG via foreign vessels. These restrictions will increase incrementally over 22 years.”
New taxes on Chinese commercial ships add to the complexity of a broadening trade war between the two economic superpowers. Trump recently slapped all Chinese goods entering the U.S. with a 145% effective tariff rate, while Beijing has slapped all U.S. goods entering China with a 125% levy.
The USTR notice continued, “A few comments agreed with the proposals, noting that the proposed fees would address trade imbalances, enhance national security, support investment in the American maritime industrial base, and promote higher environmental and labor standards. One commenter suggested that the proposed fees be captured in a U.S. shipbuilding and mariner compensation trust fund to be expended each year for reviving the U.S. merchant marine.”
Time to make America’s shipbuilding industry Great Again.
Bypass Big Tech Censors
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
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Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
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Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
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Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.