The United States proposed two more months of relief from China-related maritime fees and duties, allowing affected businesses to avoid those charges while negotiations over shipping practices continue.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said the extension would begin at 12:00 a.m. ET Nov. 10 and end at 11:59 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2027. The current suspension expires at 11:59 p.m. ET Nov. 9. USTR has not adopted the proposal, which would follow an earlier one-year pause of the maritime measures.
The additional time is intended for talks over Chinese practices in shipping, logistics and shipbuilding. In a separate trade initiative following a September meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said the U.S.-China Board of Trade recommended more favorable tariff treatment for $30 billion in nonsensitive goods moving each way. Both countries must still consider the proposed product lists under their domestic procedures.
U.S. controls on advanced chip exports also remain in place. In January, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) changed its licensing policy from a presumption of denial to case-by-case review for Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X and similar chips destined for China, subject to security conditions.
Nvidia said in a filing for its fiscal second quarter ended July 26, 2026, that licensed H200 shipments generated less than 1% of its Data Center revenue. Chinese government restrictions prevented some sales permitted under its U.S. licenses, the company said. Nvidia also said licensed chips must be brought into the United States for inspection and incur a 25% tariff upon importation, a cost it could not pass on to customers.
House Select Committee Chair John Moolenaar has opposed H200 exports and requested a Commerce Department briefing. The administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy calls for trade with China in nonsensitive goods alongside military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Stimson Center Russia Program Director Peter Slezkine and Defense Priorities senior fellow Jennifer Kavanagh, who heads military analysis there, argue in Responsible Statecraft that the coalition favoring confrontation with China is weakening. USTR said comments on the maritime proposal received by 5 p.m. ET Oct. 30 are assured consideration.
