China has now announced counter-measures to the penalties that will be imposed on China-connected shipping by the United States Trade Representative.
Details are a bit scant, but China’s Premier, Li Qiang has signed Order 817 of the State Council (link will take you to Mandarin-language text). A very short summary of the new regulations in English can also be found on the English-language version of China’s State Council website. The English language summary agrees with a machine-translation, details of which follow, to the extent that it confirms that new regulations on international maritime transport have been imposed.
A machine-translation of the Mandarin-language text into English suggests that the new order will amend a previous law and will take effect on promulgation (28 September 2025).
The new rule, according to the translation, apparently states that if any country adopts, assists, or supports discriminatory prohibitions, restrictions, or similar measures against Chinese operators, ships, or crew engaged in international maritime transport and its ancillary services, and relevant treaties don’t provide sufficient and effective remedies, then China may take necessary countermeasures.
These countermeasures are reported to include, but are not limited to:
- charging fees on that country’s ships when they berth at Chinese ports
- banning or restricting ships from entering or leaving Chinese ports
- banning or restricting individuals or organisations of that country from obtaining data about China’s international maritime transport; or
- from operating international maritime transport and ancillary services involving Chinese ports.
Additionally, international shipping transaction platform operators (a phrase that does not appear to be defined) will be required to fil various pieces of information such as name, place of registration, contact details, platform service agreements and trading rules with China’s Ministry of Transport.
