The Federal Maritime Commission has proposed a $200,000 fee per voyage on Spanish-flagged vessels entering US ports. The agency found that Spain denied US-flagged vessels access to its ports, including ships carrying cargo under the Maritime Administration’s Maritime Security Program.
The other proposed remedy would restrict imports of Spanish goods in five tariff chapters: perfumery and cosmetics, oils and fats, ceramics, articles of stone, and sugar and confectionery. The FMC is taking comments to decide which remedy to use and may choose a lesser one, its Federal Register notice says. The rule would also let the US deny entry to, or detain, any vessel carrying those goods. Relatively few Spanish-flagged vessels call at US ports, the FMC said.
The FMC is considering an alternative remedy that would restrict imports of Spanish goods in five categories:
Perfumery and cosmetics
Oils and fats
Ceramics
Articles of stone
Sugar and confectionery
The agency is seeking comments before deciding which remedy to adopt and may choose a lesser measure, according to its Federal Register notice. The proposal would also allow the US to deny entry to or detain vessels carrying the listed goods.
The investigation began in December 2024. Spain’s restrictions prompted Maersk vessels Seletar, Denver and Hartford to reroute to Tangier, Morocco, rather than call at Spanish ports. Initial reports said the ships carried cargo bound for or coming from Israel.
The FMC previously imposed a $100,000-per-voyage fee on vessels operated by Japanese carriers in 1997. That case ended in a bilateral resolution. The proposed Spanish-vessel fee is roughly equivalent to that amount adjusted for inflation.
The FMC is accepting comments through Dec. 14 and will offer Spain a hearing.
Separately, US fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships remain paused until Nov. 9.
