Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 02 JUNE 2025

Final U.S. Trade Representative Chinese Ship Fees Provide Relief For Canadian Shipowners

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Contributor
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

With over 750 lawyers, intellectual property agents and other professionals, BLG services...

View firm profile
Explore more from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

On April 17, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued its long-anticipated Notice of Action and Proposed Action...

GlobalTransport
Jean-Marie Fontaine
Jean-Marie Fontaine
Simon Ledsham
Simon Ledsham
Author LinkedIn connections

On April 17, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued its long-anticipated Notice of Action and Proposed Action setting out the fees that would be levied on Chinese-built vessels calling at American ports, among other trade measures targeting the People's Republic of China. While there was another hearing on May 19, 2025, it only concerned further proposed tariffs on Chinese ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment.

Discussions and speculation surrounding these measures had fuelled concerns from shipping industry actors worldwide, including Canadian shipowners and operators, charterers, and shippers.

Many Canadian shipowners operate Chinese-built ships due to their availability on the market and relatively low cost. The initially proposed fees of US$1 million per port call would have had a significant negative impact on shipowners and charterers, especially smaller operators in the Great Lakes and on the East and West

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Quebec’s New Truck Licence Transfer Rules: What Ontario Carriers Need To Do Now

Ontario commercial truck drivers with less than two years of heavy-truck experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before transferring their licence to operate heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows fatal collisions and an Ontario Auditor General audit that exposed significant gaps in training standards and provider oversight. Carriers operating across the border need to factor these requirements into workforce planning, recruitment timelines, and dis
CanadaTransport
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Cleared For Investment: Canada Opens The Door To Private Capital At Its Largest Airports

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to seek private investment through long-term concessions to operate Canada's four largest airports: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montréal-Trudeau and Calgary. While the government would retain ownership of underlying land and assets, this represents a fundamental shift from the current not-for-profit airport authority model that has governed these facilities since the 1990s.
CanadaTransport
McMillan LLP
McMillan LLP
Article

Canada Commits To Airport Privatization Through Long-Term Concessions For Its Four Largest Airports

The Canadian federal government has announced a firm commitment to privatize operations at the country's four largest airports through long-term concessions, marking a decisive shift from earlier exploratory discussions. Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that while the government will retain ownership of airport lands and assets following the Australian leased-airport model, private investment will be sought to operate Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal-Trudeau, and Calgary international airports.
CanadaTransport
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Lights, Camera Infractions: A Review Of Ontario’s Automatic Enforcement System Offence Regime, The Risks To Commercial Vehicle Carriers And How Operators Can Protect Themselves

Ontario's automatic enforcement system (AES) offences, captured by red light cameras and similar technology, pose significant regulatory risks to commercial vehicle carriers. These offences carry the maximum 5 CVOR penalty points—equivalent to impaired driving or criminal negligence—yet are nearly impossible to defend or resolve through plea negotiations.
CanadaTransport
Gardiner Roberts LLP
Gardiner Roberts LLP
Article

Airport Privatization: Models, International Experience, And The Canadian Legal Landscape

Editor's note (September 15, 2026): Following publication of this article, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed plans to open Canada's four largest airports to private investment through long-term operating concessions, while retaining government ownership of the land and underlying assets. The announcement marks a significant step toward the alternative ownership and operating models explored below.
CanadaTransport
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Nouvelles règles québécoises sur l’échange des permis de conduire de véhicules lourds : quelles sont les mesures à prendre par les transporteurs ontariens

Ontario truck drivers with less than two years of commercial heavy vehicle experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before exchanging their license to drive commercial heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows a series of collisions involving heavy trucks in Quebec and a May 2026 audit revealing significant gaps in Ontario's training standards and oversight of providers. Carriers operating across the Ontario-Quebec border must now factor these requireme
CanadaTransport
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Cleared For Takeoff? The Legal Reality Of Commercial Drones In Canada

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, are increasingly used in Canada for commercial purposes such as infrastructure inspection, real estate photography, agriculture, filmmaking, mapping and resource exploration. Their advantages are clear: they are flexible, relatively inexpensive and capable of collecting information from angles and locations that would otherwise be difficult to access.
CanadaTransport
Fasken
Fasken
Article

From Duties To Import Bans: The Canada–U.S. Tariff War After The Collapse Of Negotiations

The United States has escalated its trade dispute with Canada by imposing import bans on alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, while Canada responds with matched counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods. Following the collapse of bilateral negotiations in August 2026, both nations have entered an unprecedented phase of trade restrictions that extends beyond traditional tariffs to include procurement exclusions and threatens further auto
GlobalInternational Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

A New Structure Enters The Ring: CIRO’s Incorporated Approved Person Compensation Proposal

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization’s (CIRO) proposed Incorporated Approved Person model could materially change how client-facing advisors structure their businesses and receive compensation with significant impacts to sponsoring firms. The proposed rule amendments, published on July 9, 2026, would introduce a harmonized incorporated compensation option for client-facing Approved Persons across CIRO regulated dealers. Comments are due November 6, 2026.
CanadaFinance and Banking
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

BLG At The SCC – What’s Coming In The Supreme Court’s Fall 2026 Sitting Schedule

The Supreme Court of Canada held its second annual ceremony marking the opening of the judicial year at its temporary home in the West Memorial Building, with Chief Justice highlighting the Court's increased caseload and architectural features. What significant constitutional and legal challenges will the Court address in its fall 2026 session, including cases on firearm regulations, Crown immunity, and vicarious liability?
CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

New Churchill Falls Agreement: Key Terms For Newfoundland And Labrador, Québec And Canadian Power Markets

Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly has approved a landmark definitive cooperation and implementation agreement that would replace the 1969 Churchill Falls Power Contract, pair the redevelopment of Churchill Falls with the Gull Island project, and establish new transmission pathways through Québec. The agreement faces political uncertainty in Québec ahead of the October 2026 provincial election...
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

Canada Investment Summit 2026: What Business Leaders Need To Know

Canada's inaugural Investment Summit in September 2026 aims to attract $1 trillion in investment across defence, infrastructure, Indigenous partnerships, technology, energy, critical minerals and agriculture. This analysis examines the federal measures shaping the Summit's agenda and outlines the key legal, regulatory and structuring considerations businesses and investors should evaluate when assessing nation-building opportunities in Canada.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

The Compliance Judges’ Scorecard: OSC RIE Division 2026 Annual Report

Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fee practices and the quality of regulatory filings feature prominently in the Ontario Securities Commission’s (OSC) latest account of its registration and examination work. OSC Staff Notice 33-762, released on October 7, 2026, reports on the Registration, Inspections and Examinations Division’s (RIE) activities for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026 (Staff Notice).
CanadaCorporate/Commercial Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

Prediction Markets And IGaming Update: Forecasting More Developments Ahead

Canadian securities regulators have drawn a clear line excluding sports and entertainment prediction markets from securities regulation, leaving provincial gaming authorities to develop frameworks for these emerging platforms. Meanwhile, Quebec's political landscape suggests a potential opening of its iGaming market, and the Supreme Court prepares to rule on whether Ontario operators can legally connect players internationally through pooled liquidity arrangements.
CanadaCorporate/Commercial Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP