Trump Reverses Course on Strait of Hormuz Fee Amid Industry Outcry

Middle East — Ekhbary News Agency

President Trump abruptly reversed his declaration to impose a 20% fee on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead for "Trade and Investment Deals" with various Gulf States. This sudden policy shift, announced via a Truth Social post on Tuesday, came after widespread condemnation from shipping industry experts and logistics companies who had labeled the proposed levy illegal and a perilous precedent for global maritime law.

Industry Warns of "Dangerous Pandora's Box"

Before the reversal, industry analysts had warned that a 20% fee could burden the largest vessels with over $30 million per shipment, a cost deemed prohibitive. Petras Katinas, a research fellow at RUSI Europe, cautioned that such a move would "open a very dangerous Pandora's Box," potentially encouraging other nations to impose their own tolls and thus undermine already fragile international maritime law. Lloyd's List editor Richard Meade echoed these concerns, asserting that there is "no legal basis for charging vessels to exercise their right of transit passage through an international strait," regardless of the originating authority.

Financial Implications and International Law

Estimates by Lloyd's List suggested a 20% fee could amount to approximately $17 million for a fully laden large natural gas carrier. Amena Bakr of Kpler indicated that at current Brent crude prices around $80 a barrel, roughly $16 per barrel would have gone to the U.S. government. German logistics giant Hapag-Lloyd firmly stated that charging tolls for passage through international waters is "fundamentally wrong," distinguishing it from infrastructure-based fees like those for the Suez or Panama Canals. As things stand, the unpredictability of such policy shifts creates significant market instability, leaving stakeholders to navigate uncertain waters.