In brief: The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has proposed a $200,000 per-voyage fee on all Spanish-flagged vessels calling at US ports, alongside possible import restrictions on several categories of Spanish goods.
The proposal, filed under docket FMC-2026-0463, follows an FMC investigation into conditions affecting US-flagged shipping in Spain. The goods categories under consideration for import restriction are perfumery and cosmetics, oils and fats, ceramics, articles of stone, and sugar and confectionery. The FMC has opened the measures for public comment, with submissions due by December 14, 2026; neither the fee nor the import restrictions are in force yet.
For importers of Spanish goods and operators of Spanish-flagged tonnage serving US ports, the proposal signals a tangible cost and market-access risk on specific trade lanes well before any final rule is adopted. Exporters in the affected goods categories and their US buyers should track the comment process and weigh contingency sourcing or flagging options while the docket remains open.
Source: US Federal Maritime Commission, October 15, 2026.