As US President Donald Trump places sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, the spectre of trade war looms over global commerce. While attention remains on consumer goods and factory output, a quieter but potentially more lasting confrontation is taking shape that could remake global trade infrastructure.
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On April 17, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) concluded an investigation into China’s shipbuilding and maritime sectors. Framed as a response to alleged unfair practices, the resulting policy measures have far-reaching consequences, particularly for Hong Kong.
These include per-voyage service fees on Chinese-built and Chinese-controlled vessels calling at US ports, as well as proposed tariffs on Chinese-made ship-to-shore cranes and other key port equipment. For liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, carriers will have to be US-built, phasing out Chinese-made ships from the trade.
These measures may seem distant from Hong Kong. They are not. The city’s shipping community is deeply integrated with the Chinese maritime industry. Many vessels registered with or operated from Hong Kong are Chinese-built, and much of our port infrastructure includes equipment from mainland manufacturers.
Operators and terminal managers in Hong Kong could find themselves caught in a regulatory and commercial squeeze, facing rising costs, heightened scrutiny and uncertain market access.
Hong Kong’s government has rightly voiced strong opposition, calling the US measures “blatantly discriminatory” and warning of their impact on global maritime cooperation. This stance, however, must be matched by action.