Beijing urged Washington on Monday to immediately stop its wrongdoings following reports that the United States is proposing port fees on Chinese-built ships and operators.

“We urge the US to respect facts and multilateral rules, and immediately cease its erroneous acts. China will take necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Reuters cited a draft executive order saying that the US is planning to charge fees for docking at US ports on any ship that is part of a fleet that includes Chinese-built or Chinese flagged vessels. The order also stated that the US will push allies to act similarly or face retaliation.

Mao reiterated China’s position on relevant issues, saying that no one, even the US itself, stands to gain from either levying fees on ships or imposing additional tariffs on port-related equipment.

“(Such measures) will drive up global shipping costs, disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and also increase the inflationary pressure within the US, thus harming the interests of American consumers and businesses,” Mao said.

Ultimately, the American shipbuilding industry will not be revived through such attempts, she added.

— In association with Asia News Network