Danish shipping company Norden is bracing for the introduction of US port fees, but according to the company’s own leadership, the bigger concern lies elsewhere: potential Chinese retaliation.
According to ShippingWatch, Christian Antonsen, Head of Dry Cargo at Norden, stated that Chinese port fees imposed on vessels linked to the United States would have consequences reaching far beyond the shipping sector, potentially affecting the entire global economy.
Who Is Christian Antonsen?
ShippingWatch reports that Antonsen took over as head of dry bulk at Norden in January 2026, placing him at the center of the company’s strategic response to shifting trade and port-fee policies between the world’s two largest economies.
A Tit-for-Tat Fee Environment
The report from ShippingWatch places Norden’s situation within a broader pattern of tension over port fees tied to US-China trade relations. ShippingWatch has separately reported that China and the US extended a trade truce that is likely to include reciprocal port fees, while other dry bulk operators, including Ultrabulk, have reportedly been working to avoid exposure to both US and Chinese port fees as a relevant deadline approaches.
Beyond Antonsen’s statement on the scale of potential economic impact, ShippingWatch’s publicly available preview does not detail the specific measures Norden is taking to prepare for US port fees, nor does it specify the exact structure or timeline of the Chinese fees under discussion.
Does This Matter to You?
For operators, charterers, and traders active in dry bulk shipping between the US and China, developments around reciprocal port fees are directly relevant to voyage planning and cost calculations. If Chinese fees targeting US-linked vessels move forward, exposure could extend beyond direct US-China routes, given Antonsen’s warning that the impact could ripple through the wider global economy.
Bunker suppliers and port operators monitoring trade flows between major economies may also want to track how this fee dispute develops, since disruptions to bulk trade patterns can influence vessel routing, fuel demand at ports, and overall shipping volumes. The full scope of Norden’s preparations and the precise terms of any Chinese fee measures remain unclear from currently available reporting.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch
