(Reuters)-The port taxes that the United States threatens to impose on China are likely to strongly impact the maritime sector while most container ships are built in the Asian country, warned CMA CGM on Friday.

The Office of the American Representative in Commerce (United States Trade Responsive, USTR) proposed to charge up to $ 1.5 million to ships built in China entering the American ports, as part of its survey of China’s “unfair practices” in shipbuilding, maritime transport and logistics.

“You know that today more than half of the container ships in the world are built in China. So it will be a significant effect on all the shipowners in the world,” said Ramon Fernandez, the group’s financial director, to journalists.

CMA CGM, controlled by the family of the president and chief executive officer Rodolphe Saadé, is the third world maritime transport company by containers. It is very present in the United States, where it operates several port terminals, while its subsidiary APL has 10 ships beating American flag, added Ramon Fernandez.

Asked about Ocean Alliance, a ship sharing agreement involving CMA CGM and Asian partners, including Chinese Cosco, Ramon Fernandez said that CMA CGM had had no indication that the alliance could be questioned due to American policy.

He refused to comment on the USTR’s proposals awaiting a decision expected in April.

The group is already expecting the new customs duties announced by US President Donald Trump to have an impact on maritime transport this year, which could accelerate the reorientation of commercial roads initiated after the customs duties imposed by Donald Trump on China during his first mandate, Ramon Fernandez told.

The threat of new customs duties boosted maritime transport volumes last year, a trend that continued in early 2025, he added.

CMA CGM recorded an increase of 7.8% of the volumes transported in 2024, supporting an 18% increase in group turnover to $ 55.48 billion (53.35 billion euros).

However, market prospects seem less favorable this year, warned the group, due to geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of overcapacity of ships.

Tensions in the Red Sea linked to the attacks by Yemen Houthis absorbed the additional capacity last year, many ships having taken another route via the CAP of Bonnepérance.

The return to regular traffic in the Red Sea following the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would modify this balance and could encourage companies to rebuild the oldest ships, said Ramon Fernandez.

(Written by Gus Cheapiz, Elena Smirnova, edited by Kate Entringer)

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