Trump Port Fees Bring Added Headache for Chinese Ship Operators

Extra costs from President Donald Trump’s US port fees spell further pain for Chinese container shipping companies, which are already dealing with an escalating trade war and lower freight rates.

Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. and Orient Overseas International Ltd. are set to be the hardest hit by the US Trade Representative policy taking effect Tuesday.

In the latest tit-for-tat measure, China announced sanctions on US units of Hanwha Ocean Co. earlier on Tuesday, and unveiled a probe into the impacts from the USTR’s Section 301 measures into its maritime sector.

Last week, China also imposed special feeson some ...