USTR changes fees on foreign-built LNG, car carrier ships

The U.S. Trade Representative revised fees on non-U.S.-built LNG tankers and car carriers to bolster domestic shipbuilding and counter China's maritime influence. The revised fees, announced Friday, remove penalties for LNG exporters not using U.S. ships and lower port fees for car carriers. The changes aim to support U.S. shipbuilding and address concerns about China's maritime dominance. The revisions exempt certain vessels, including those in the U.S. Maritime Security Program. The USTR previously proposed requiring LNG producers to use U.S.-built ships for exports, a plan now modified.