BEIJING - China's Ministry of Transport on Tuesday announced the launch of a probe into how the US Section 301 investigation affects the security and development interests of China's shipping and shipbuilding sectors, as well as related industrial and supply chains.

According to an official statement, the probe, to be jointly carried out by departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, will also examine whether any related companies, organizations or individuals have implemented, assisted with or supported the discriminatory restrictive measures imposed by the United States.

Depending on the findings, the government will introduce measures in response at an opportune time, the statement said.

The ministry early on Tuesday also revealed a detailed document regarding measures to charge special port fees on ships owned or operated by US enterprises, organizations and individuals in response to the US move to impose additional port fees on Chinese ships after a Section 301 investigation.

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The document, composed of 10 articles, clarifies specific provisions on the charging scope and standards, entities to collect the fees, payable voyages, the date of implementation and other relevant aspects.

Exemptions from these special port fees will be granted to ships built by China, empty ships entering Chinese shipyards purely for repair purposes, and other ships that are deemed exempted from payment, according to the document.

This document also notes that the scope and standards of fees, and the charging period, will be dynamically adjusted in line with the situation at the time of implementation.

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These detailed measures were unveiled following the ministry's announcement on Oct 10 that China will charge special port fees on US ships starting Oct 14 - in response to the US move to impose additional port fees on Chinese ships after a Section 301 investigation.

The US action seriously violates WTO rules and the China-US maritime transport agreement, causing severe damage to maritime trade between the two countries, the ministry said -- adding that China's decision to levy special port fees on US ships is a justified measure to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industries and enterprises, and to ensure a fair competitive environment in international shipping. 

Hanwha Ocean

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday announced the decision to take countermeasures against five US-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, a leading shipbuilding enterprise from the Republic of Korea.

These countermeasures, which took effect on Tuesday, were adopted to counteract the United States' Section 301 investigation measures aimed at China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, the ministry said in a statement.

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The five US-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean subject to these countermeasures are Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc, Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC and HS USA Holdings Corp, according to the ministry.

Organizations and individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in any transactions, cooperation or related activities with these entities, the ministry noted.