Impact of U.S. Port Fees to Label Industry and What will Betckey Do?
Written by: BernauLena
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Time to read 4 min
The recent China-U.S. trade war has escalated, bringing more policies and uncertainties, with the new port fee to be one of them. According to the news, the first U.S. ship to face this fee is the Manukai, which has been charged $ 627,000 USD. This new fee is expected to be a long-term policy and may affect the shipping, shipbuilding, and other industries. Since many cross-border goods, like labels, depends on sea transport, how will this affect industries like ours? Today, we will explain the details and talk about Betckey’s plan to deal with this change.
Starting on October 14, 2025, the United States and China officially began imposing port fees on each other’s vessels, marking a new phase in their maritime and trade tensions. The U.S. introduced fees of $ 50 per net ton for ships owned or operated by Chinese entities, $18 per net ton or 120 per uploaded container (whichever is higher) for China-built ships, and $14 per net ton for vehicle carriers or roll-on/roll-off ships. This action intends to weaken China’s vessel industry and strengthen the vessel industry of the U.S. In response, China announced its own “special port fees” on American-linked ships, ranging from 400 RMB per net ton in 2025 to 1120 RMB by 2028, exempting China-built vessels.
These measures, seen as tit-for-tat actions, are expected to raise shipping costs, disrupt global logistics routes, and increase freight rates. Industry analysts warn that shipping companies may divert vessels to third-country ports or restructure supply chains to avoid the new levies. The policy underscores the deepening U.S.-China competition beyond tariffs and technology -- now extending into maritime logistics and port control, with ripple effects on global trade stability and cost structure.
Impact on the U.S.-China Label Industry
Although the reciprocal port-fee policy between China and the United States appears to target the shipping sector, it has created a ripple effect across the label industry and its closely connected supply-chain partners -- including logistics, e-commerce, packaging, printing, and retail.
Impact on Label manufactures
The new port charges have expended export lead times. Shipping companies are adjusting routes to avoid costly ports, and terminals now prioritize vessels with lower regulatory risk. As a result, Chinese label exporters face delayed deliveries just as the second half of the years peak sales season begins, forcing e-commerce sellers to stock up earlier and tie up more working capital.
From a cost perspective, these port fees act as a hidden tariff. Rising freight and insurance rates squeeze the already thin margins of high volume, low-margin label producers. While U.S. domestic label manufacturers are largely insulated from these direct shipping costs, import-reliant distributors will inevitably face higher landed prices.
Impact on Related Industries
The impacts of this policy are far beyond label industry. Logistics and warehousing operators are the first to feel the strain as they confront higher freight rates and fewer direct China-U.S. sailings. The packaging sector, in which labels are essential component, is also hit by higher shipping uncertainties. These challenges are pushing many American buyers to prefer local or regionally sourced products to ensure stability and reduce dependence imports.
The overall Result
Ultimately, the reciprocal port fees mean higher shipping and warehousing costs, increased retail prices, and tighter profit margins for both producers and buyers. The entire label supply chain -- logistics, and retail -- is facing new pressure that could accelerate the long-term trend toward localization and diversified sourcing in both the U.S. and Chinese markets.
Betckey’s Strategy
As a factory-direct label brand, Betckey had proactively shipped a large batch of goods to the United States before October 14, ahead of the new port-fee policy taking effect. This early preparation helps us secure stable inventory for our customers during the upcoming peak sales season and minimize any disruption caused by shipping delays or increased freight costs.
However, Betckey’s business model is built on high quality and competitive pricing through a high-volume, low-margin approach. The recent rise in logistics and port-related expenses inevitably increases our operational burden. While we will continue to absorb as much of the additional cost as possible, price adjustments may be considered depending on how shipping costs evolve in the coming months.
If any price changes become necessary, Betckey will notify customers in advance to ensure full transparency and allow adequate time for order planning. Our priority remains to provide reliable, cost-effective labeling solutions and to maintain long-term trust with our global partners
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new port fees will likely have a significant impact on the label industry and other related sectors. As businesses adjust to these changes, it’s important to stay informed and prepared. Betckey is committed to managing these challenges and will continue to provide reliable solutions for our customers.
About Betckey
Betckey Premium Labels is a leading supplier of compatible direct thermal labels, committed to high-quality and eco-friendly products as well as competitive pricing. We offer better products than manufactured original at 70% less price. Now, our Amazon store ranks first in the US, Canada, and Western Europe with thousands of positive ratings. Visit betckey.com and get special discount when purchasing! Sign up now and we'll send you a special discount towards your purchase. By the way, welcome to follow our official @ Tik Tok and @ Youtube accounts to get Betckey’s latest news!
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