China's shipbuilders on Saturday blasted as "short-sighted" US port fees announced by President Donald Trump's administration on China-linked ships, a measure aimed at the nation's shipbuilding industry.

Trump signed an order on Wednesday aimed at reviving US shipbuilding and reducing China's grip on the global shipping industry. His government the next day altered the measures by shielding domestic exporters and vessel owners serving the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and US territories.

The China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry expressed "extreme indignation and resolute opposition" to the USmeasures, joining protests from the government and country's shipowners.

"The decline of the US shipbuilding industry is the result of its protectionism and has nothing to do with China," the shipbuilders said in a statement.

It claimed the US restrictions would disrupt the global maritime system, lead to soaring shipping costs, further push up US inflation and harm the interest of the US people.

"We call on the international maritime industry to jointly resist this short-sighted US behaviour, and jointly maintain a fair market environment," the industry body said, adding it expects Chinese authorities to take strong countermeasures.

The government protested against the "discriminatory" steps on Friday, urging Washington to "correct wrongdoings".

The Ministry of Commerce vowed in a statement to, "resolutely take necessary measures to safeguard our own interests," saying the fees, "fully reveal the essence of its unilateralist and protectionist policies, and are typical, non-market practices."

The Chinese shipbuilding industry is mostly government-owned and is heavily subsidised.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard)