China announced a one-year suspension of port duties on ships linked to the United States (US), as part of its international economic diplomacy strategy.
According to an official statement from the Chinese Ministry of Transport, the exemption covers ships owned, operated or registered in the US.
This was driven by the reopening of trade negotiations between the two countries after a period of protracted disputes.
Beijing's action is seen as a balanced response to Washington's previous announcement that stated the postponement of the implementation of port duties on Chinese ships for a year, as part of bilateral negotiations to reduce trade tensions.
Analysts assess that this move has the potential to strengthen maritime trade flows between China and the US in addition to reducing the burden of logistics costs for ship-related companies.
Official comments from Washington or US port authorities have not yet been received.
China's move shows that despite geopolitical tensions, both countries are now choosing a pragmatic approach to reduce the negative impact on the maritime industry and global trade.
