Matson, the U.S.-based ocean carrier, reported that it paid approximately US $6.4 million in port-entry levies to China in the three-week period following the initiation of reciprocal port fees on 14 October 2025.
A subsequent agreement between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping led to a 12-month suspension of the reciprocal fee programs starting 10 November 2025.
The levy was a direct cost hit to Matson, affecting one of its key trade lanes between China and the U.S., and contributing to an already challenging soft peak season in the Transpacific trade.
Although Matson absorbed the initial cost, the carrier warned that had the fees not been paused, it could have faced annual fee exposure of up to US $80 million in 2026-27.