The ministry said on Friday that the measures were “typical non-market practices with obvious discriminatory characteristics” and Beijing was “strongly dissatisfied [with] and firmly opposed” to them.
“The US measures fully expose the unilateralist and protectionist nature of its policies,” it said.
“They seriously harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, disrupt the stability of the global supply and production chain, violate World Trade Organization rules, and undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order.”
The comments came after the administration of US President Donald Trump on Thursday finalised port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the United States as part of efforts to buoy the domestic shipbuilding industry and curb Chinese dominance in the sector.
Chinese operators and shipowners will have to pay US$50 “per net ton” for vessels entering US ports from October 14. The fee will increase annually to US$140 by April 2028 and apply regardless of where the ships were built.
Chinese-built vessels will face lower port fees, starting at US$18 per net ton or US$120 per container from October 14.
