Vehicle carriers seek the relief of the wide port rates of the US.

The operators of huge car carriers seek the relief of the surprise plan of the United States commercial representative to impose port rates in all ships built abroad in that segment, including 20 vessels that guarantee transport for the US Army. Uu. During a national war or emergency, three sources told Reuters.

Ustr announced the rates on April 17 as part of a continuous effort to hit certain ships linked to China that call US ports with rates that would finance a national rebirth of naval construction and counteract China's dominance on the high seas.

The rates sent a shock wave through the vehicle carriers industry, because they went beyond aiming the ships built by China and owned by China.

The rates in vehicle carriers are so wide that they would reach the 20 vehicle carriers with American and created flags in the United States admitted in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) of the United States that support Washington's military preparation, according to two lawyers, which requested the anonymity due to fear of reprisal.

Rates would also increase mass costs in American car manufacturers that are already hurt by the tariff policies of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.

The encumbrances were not mentioned in the original proposal of port rates of Ustre as of February, so, unlike the operators of other ships, the boat operators did not have the opportunity to give feedback.

“The rate in car carriers came from nowhere,” said one of the lawyers.

Both said that the USTR was overreach because the rates are collected in the ships made in countries that were not part of the investigation to accelerate the Biden administration that found that China unfairly dominates the maritime, logistics and global naval construction sectors.

The World Shipping Council (WSC), whose members include the Wilhelmsen Swedish vehicle transporter, warned of April 18 that the rates would reach almost all car transporters and would have involuntary consequences.

WSC declined to make more comments.

The lawyers and a group of the industry say they have requested meetings with Ustr to discuss their concerns. Ustr did not comment immediately if the body would meet with the representatives of the carriers.

Ustr plans plan to charge vehicle carriers built through $ 150 for each car that the ship has the capacity to carry, as of October 14. That rate would be $ 900,000 for a ship that transports 6,000 cars.

Vehicle carriers are vital for US military preparation because they can transport large equipment such as tanks, airplanes and helicopters.

Business companies in the MSP include American Roll-on Florida, Roll-Off Carrier Group, an operator of US vehicle carriers that is part of the Willenius Wilhelmsen group. Liberty Global Logistics, based in New York, is another supplier. Arc and Liberty spokesmen did not immediately respond to comments requests, while Willenius Wilhelmsen declined to comment.

A maersk Line Ltd spokesman, the American arm of the Danish container shipping giant, which is also part of the MSP, said he is reviewing the most recent information of USTT and preparing for a variety of scenarios.

There are 1,466 vehicle carriers in operation, according to Alphalainer data.

Only 39 of those ships were built in the United States, said Alphaliner.