China has begun collecting an additional port fee from U.S. vessels, state broadcaster CCTV reported Tuesday, marking a retaliatory step against American tariffs on Chinese ships.
The new charge, announced earlier this year, went into effect Tuesday and applies specifically to U.S.-flagged ships docking at Chinese ports, according to the report.
China’s move comes in response to what it described as discriminatory port and trade fees imposed by the United States. The state-run NTB news agency noted that some exemptions to the fee will apply, though details were not immediately released.
The fee marks another escalation in maritime and trade tensions between the two countries.