The Trump administration began imposing fees on Chinese ships docking at American ports on October 14, in an attempt to counter China’s dominance of commercial shipbuilding and help revitalize the United States’ own shipbuilding industry.

China’s Ministry of Transport hit back on October 10, saying it planned to hit American vessels with fees when they docked in China. U.S.-linked ships berthing at Chinese ports are now charged 400 yuan ($56) per net tonne, according to Chinese state media CCTV.

The New York Times says the tit-for-tat comes as trade relations between China and the U.S. are again descending into hostility, with China announcing more stringent restrictions on rare earth minerals, while President Trump threatened to impose more tariffs on the country, before tempering his tone somewhat.

BBC News reports that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on October 13 that Trump and China's President Xi Jinping are still expected to meet in South Korea in late October as they try to de-escalate trade tensions.

Read More: Shipping Faces ‘Sizeable Disruption’ as U.S., China Spar on Fees

The U.S. port fees took effect on the same day as new tariffs on imported furniture, kitchen cabinets and lumber, imposed after a trade investigation started under the Biden administration concluded that China has used subsidies to gain an advantage in shipbuilding.

The fees must be paid by ships owned by Chinese shipping companies, and by non-Chinese shipping lines when they send Chinese-built ships to American ports.

The Times reports that shipping companies have said they do not intend to raise their customers’ rates in response to the levies.