USA: port fees on China-linked ships suspended until January 9, 2027, diesel falls to $6.13 a gallon

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced on November 10 a two-month suspension, through January 9, 2027, of its Section 301 port fees on China-linked vessels; China likewise suspended its fees on U.S.-linked vessels. This is reported in the Grain Transportation Report, the weekly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dated November 12.

Key figures

• Fees suspended for 2 months
• Pause runs to Jan 9, 2027
• Diesel: $6.127 a gallon
• U.S. Gulf to Japan: $73/t
• Freight, year on year: +34%
• Rail surcharge: $0.76/mile

What changed

The fees were introduced in October 2025 and suspended for a year from November 10, 2025. The new pause lasts two months. If the fees return, Chinese-owned or operated vessels would pay $50 per net ton, and Chinese-built vessels $18 per net ton or $120 per container, with the rates rising gradually over three years. Chinese-built bulk vessels pay nothing if they arrive empty or have a capacity below 80,000 deadweight tons.

In figures

What the report shows on the cost of moving grain:

• U.S. diesel on November 9: $6.127 a gallon, down 16.5 cents from the previous week but $2.29 higher than a year ago.
• Freight from U.S. Gulf ports to Japan on November 5: $73.00 per ton (down 2% on the week); from the Pacific Northwest, $39.50 per ton, unchanged.
• In October the U.S. Gulf to Japan rate averaged $76 per ton, 34% above a year earlier and 32% above the 4-year average.
• Railroad fuel surcharges in November are a record $0.76 per mile, 231% above the April 2026 level.
• Vessel loadings in the U.S. Gulf: 23 ships in the week to November 5, 30% fewer than a year earlier.

What this means for the buyer

The report covers grain transport, not machinery, but the direction of costs is clear: fuel and ocean freight remain well above last year. For a buyer of U.S. machinery this means delivery rates should be requested and fixed in advance. The pause in port fees lasts only until January 9, 2027, so calculations should not assume that these fees will not return. When planning a purchase for early 2027, ask the carrier which terms are locked into the rate and until what date.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (AMS), Grain Transportation Report, November 12, 2026 (citing USTR)