China will lower the service charges of ports to optimise the business environment and encourage logistics firms to resume operations, as coronavirus begins to loosen its hold on the country.
The order was made in an circular issued by the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission, stating port charges for cargo and facilities security will be cut by 20% from 1 March to 30 June.
The measure is expected to save enterprises and shippers about US54.87m, said the circular, reported by government website China.org.cn.
Mandatory emergency response fees for cargo ships other than oil tankers will also be cancelled.
Cooperation between ports, shipping companies and cargo owners should be strengthened and port operators are encouraged to give preferential treatment to small and micro enterprises affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak, noted the circular.
In the meantime, the circular called for stronger supervision over the international shipping and port markets, and a crackdown on illegal activities.
On Thursday 12 March, a government spokesperson said the peak of the current outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China is over, reported state-run press agency Xinhua.
