The European country most vulnerable to the global trade disruption caused by Trump’s newly announced port fees on Chinese-built ships is Greece—a nation whose economy is deeply intertwined with maritime freight.
In a move framed as a bid to revitalize the US shipbuilding industry and counter China’s dominance in global maritime manufacturing, the Trump administration announced on April 17, 2025, a new set of measures against vessels constructed in China. These will be levied on shipowners—regardless of their country of origin—each time their Chinese-built ships enter US ports.
The fees on operators of Chinese-built ships, based on net tonnage or containers, will increase incrementally over the next few years, with the fee starting at $18/NT or $120 per container in 180 days, and increasing by $5/NT per year, or the same proportional yearly amount per container (e.g., in year 2, to $154 per container), over the next three years.
35% of Greece’s ships are Chinese-built and will be hit by tariffs
The implications for Greece are profound. A significant portion of the Greek-owned fleet is composed of Chinese-built ships, primarily due to China’s competitive pricing, rapid production timelines, and shipyard capacity. Currently, 35 percent of the Greek fleet is composed of Chinese-built vessels.
That share is poised to surge, with 400 of the 600 new ships on order in Greece being constructed in China, potentially raising the share to over 65 percent.
The imposition of these tariffs could sharply increase the cost of doing business for Greek shipowners operating in transatlantic routes.
Τhese costs will likely be passed on to customers, raising the price of shipping and potentially undermining the competitiveness of Greek maritime logistics—a sector that is both economically strategic and culturally symbolic for the country.
A wider European challenge
While Greece may be the most exposed, the new U.S. tariffs are likely to affect several other European shipping nations that rely on Chinese shipyards. This move may further complicate EU-US trade relations and spark a broader debate on the resilience of European shipping industries, strategic autonomy in shipbuilding, and the risks of overreliance on Chinese manufacturing.
The World Trade Organization warned of a potential “even sharper decline of 1.5 per cent in global goods trade” in 2025, depending on Trump’s tariffs policy.
It said merchandise trade between China and the US could plunge by 81 percent.
As the global trade environment becomes increasingly politicized, Greece’s shipping sector—one of the pillars of its economy—faces a pivotal test.
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