Hapag-Lloyd has joined fellow major shipping lines—including Maersk, HMM, Cosco Shipping, CMA CGM and OOCL—in confirming it will not impose additional surcharges on customers once the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)’s Section 301 measures take effect.
Under the upcoming tariff rules, which kick off on October 14, 2025, the U.S. will levy a charge of USD 50 per net ton on any vessel arriving at U.S. ports that is built, operated, or owned by Chinese entities. This fee will apply to each individual port call—regardless of how many U.S. ports a vessel visits during a single voyage—and will increase incrementally over time, reaching USD 140 per net ton by April 2028.
Addressing customer concerns about supply chain impacts, Hapag-Lloyd issued a formal statement: “We recognize that these regulatory changes may raise questions about potential effects on your supply chain. We assure you that we have thoroughly reviewed the situation and taken proactive steps to ensure the continued stability and reliability of our services.”
The German shipping giant further emphasized that operational continuity will remain uncompromised: “Our day-to-day operations and sailing schedules will continue to deliver industry-leading reliability, with no changes to our service standards.”
“We will not implement any surcharge related to this USTR Section 301 measure at this time,” Hapag-Lloyd added, noting that its global teams will continue to closely monitor developments and adjust strategies as needed.