On November 1, 2025, President Trump announced the suspension, starting on November 10, 2025, for one year of the fees imposed by the U.S. Trade Representative stemming from the USTR’s China maritime investigation.

As Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine continues, the European Union (EU) has maintained its commitment to increasing economic and legal pressure on Russia. In 2025, the EU adopted its 16th, 17th, 18th, and now 19th sanctions packages, each introducing new measures and expanding existing restrictions. 

On October 14, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed substantial fees on Chinese-built, otherwise Chinese-connected vessels, and most foreign-built vehicle carriers whether built in China or not. On the same day, the Chinese Ministry of Transport imposed retaliatory fees on “US vessels.”