BEIJING: China on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the US move of imposing port fees and other restrictive measures on China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, a spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday.
The comments came as the US started on Tuesday US Eastern Time to impose port fees and other restrictive measures based on the so-called Section 301 probe.
The US move is a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, which seriously violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the principle of equality and reciprocity under the China-US maritime transport agreement, the spokesperson said. These actions grant unfair competitive advantages to certain countries’ shipping and shipbuilding enterprises, constituting discriminatory practices against China’s shipping and shipbuilding industries and seriously undermining their interests, the spokesperson noted.
In responding to the US’ move, according to China’s Regulations on International Maritime Transport, and with the approval of the State Council, the cabinet, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) issued a notice announcing that, starting Tuesday, a special port fees will be levied on vessels linked to the US.
This is a legitimate measure to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese industries and enterprises, as well as to maintain a fair competitive environment in international shipping, said the MOT.
The MOT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments, is also conducting an investigation into the impact or potential impact of the US Section 301 investigation on the security and development interests of China’s shipping industry, shipbuilding industry and related industrial and supply chains, the MOT said on Tuesday.
To further safeguard the interests of China’s related industries, relevant Chinese authorities, in accordance with China’s National Security Law, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, and China’s Regulations on International Maritime Transport, have placed certain companies that assisted or supported the US investigation on a countermeasure list, according to the MOFCOM spokesperson on Tuesday.
China has also launched investigations into acts by the US and certain countries and enterprises that harm the security and development interests of China’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors, the spokesperson said, noting that in conducting these investigations, China will adhere to the principles of openness, fairness, and impartiality, and fully protect the legitimate rights of all stakeholders.
On Tuesday, the MOFCOM announced countermeasures against five US-based subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Co, in response to the US’ Section 301 investigation and related measures targeting China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries.
The five subsidiaries include Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc, Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC, and HS USA Holdings Corp, according to the MOFCOM statement. The MOFCOM said that these companies have assisted and supported investigations conducted by the US government, endangering China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
