China probes shipping companies over 'excessive' fees

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Chinese regulators are investigating as yet unnamed shipping carriers into “alleged double charges on imports and exports and other illegal fees”, with some seven different government departments ordered to look into the allegations, which have been made by “foreign trade firms”. This report specifically quotes terminal handling charges, with lines now levying a $188 fee per lift at Chinese container terminals, a level which would appear to be way above the industry averages – a typical lift in a European box terminal would be at least half that level, if not less.