The World Shipping Council has joined a broad coalition of maritime, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and logistics organisations calling on the U.S. Trade Representative to permanently suspend Section 301 port fees.
In a joint letter, the organisations welcome the proposed two-month extension of the suspension until 9 January 2027, warning that reinstating the fees would increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, undermine the competitiveness of American exporters and create further uncertainty across supply chains. The coalition calls instead for sustained investment and long-term policies to strengthen U.S. shipbuilding and maritime competitiveness.