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The President issued an Executive Order on April 9, 2025 aimed at “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.”  The order covers numerous topics including a Maritime Action Plan, Ensuring Security and Resilience, PRC’s unfair actions, and other topics.

One key topic addresses the enforcement/collection of HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fees) and other charges.  Historically, HMF was payable on all entries of goods by ocean mode of transport at US ports (including inland ports where cargo imported at a sea port and moved in bond inland). Cargo routed through Canada and Mexico and entered by land borders were not assessed the HMF fees.  The executive order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take steps to collect HMF and any other fees etc. PLUS a 10% service fee for cargo first arriving in Canada or Mexico by vessel.

Another key issue addressed is the “Targeted and Phased Action to Reverse Chinese Dominance and to Restore American Shipbuilding.”  These actions will occur in two phases.  For the first 180 days, applicable fees will be set to zero.  After 180 days:

• Fees on vessel owners and operators of China based on net tonnage per U.S. voyage, increasing incrementally over the following years - the fee would start at $50/NT in 180 days and increases by $30/NT per year over the next three years;

• Fees on operators of Chinese-built ships based on net tonnage or containers, increasing incrementally over the following years - the fee would start at $18/NT or $120 per container in 180 days, and would increase by $5/NT per year, or the same proportional yearly amount per container (e.g., in year 2, to $154 per container), over the next three years; and

• To incentivize U.S.-built car carrier vessels, fees on foreign-built car carrier vessels based on their capacity - the fee would start at $150 per Car Equivalent Unit (CEU) capacity of the entering non-U.S. built vessel in 180 days.

To read all related documents, check out the links below.

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