On June 12, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposed two modifications to its April 17 announcement of actions under Section 301, which are scheduled to take effect starting on October 14, 2025. The actions aim to counter China’s dominance in the maritime sector.
The first proposed modification would revise the method for calculating service fees on Chinese-owned, operated, or built vessels. The second would eliminate the USTR’s authority to suspend export licenses and expand data reporting requirements to include vessel owners and operators.
The USTR is seeking public comment on both proposed modifications.