US President Donald Trump has announced a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that British critics have branded 'state-backed highway robbery' and 'economic extortion'. The plan, which Trump claims is a 'matter of fairness' to cover the cost of providing security, has sparked immediate backlash in the UK and from international maritime organisations.
UK Politicians Condemn the Toll
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller MP said: 'Donald Trump's plan to slap a 20% tax on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is nothing short of state-backed highway robbery. Ambushing global trade at one of the world's most vital chokepoints is an act of economic extortion. Extracting tolls like this is a flagrant violation of international law.'
Miller urged the UK government to act, stating: 'The UK Government cannot afford to be a passive bystander while a volatile White House tears up the rules of global trade and regional stability, or while the Iranian regime continues to attack vessels in the Strait. Both Donald Trump and Tehran are once again holding the global economy to ransom. Keir Starmer must immediately co-ordinate with our international allies to reject this lawless toll, protect freedom of navigation, and work urgently to de-escalate this rapidly expanding conflict.'
Trump's Announcement on Truth Social
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: 'The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.'
He added: 'The USA will be, from this point forward, known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT”, but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World. The process and formation will begin immediately.'
International Maritime Organisation Rejects the Fee
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations agency overseeing safety and security in international shipping, firmly opposed the toll. An IMO spokesperson said: 'We have always been consistent on its stance on fees – IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation. There is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait.'
Only last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the US was against Iran charging fees for ships to use the international waterway, stating: 'There isn't a nation on Earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits.' Trump himself recently joined other world leaders at the G7 summit in France, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to confirm that 'the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade.'
Escalating Conflict in the Region
The toll announcement comes amid an escalating stand-off between Washington and Tehran over the Gulf channel, which has seen both sides exchange fire. The latest clash followed an Iranian attack on a container ship on Sunday in the strait. Iran claims it controls the waterway, a position disputed by the US and other countries that cite international law on freedom of navigation.
Trump also announced the reintroduction of a blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, US Central Command (Centcom) revealed it had used one-way 'kamikaze' surface drones for the first time in its latest attacks on Iran, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. In a post on X, the US military said: 'Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night's strikes degraded Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.'
Background on the Strait of Hormuz
Ending Tehran's stranglehold on the sea route, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices, had been a key demand in previous negotiations. However, the initial deal reached between the US and Iran only provides for safe, toll-free passage of the waterway for 60 days, pending a final agreement on Tehran's disputed nuclear plans. The pact also leaves it to Iran and Oman, in conjunction with other Gulf states, to 'define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.' In the meantime, Iran has continued to exert leverage, including demanding ships seek permission to transit and raising the spectre of future charges.
