According to multiple media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, Associated Press, and Reuters, US President Trump announced on July 13, 2026 that the US will restore its maritime blockade of Iran and impose a 20% fee on all goods transported through the Strait of Hormuz.
He wrote on Truth Social: "The Strait of Hormuz is currently open and will remain open regardless of whether Iran participates. We are restarting the 'Iran blockade order'." He stated that the blockade only applies to Iranian ships or customers, and ships from other countries can still travel without restrictions.
Trump announced that the United States will become the "guardian of the Strait of Hormuz" and will charge a 20% fee for all goods transported through it to compensate for the necessary costs invested by the United States in maintaining security and stability in this volatile global region.
International response: UN agencies explicitly oppose
According to multiple media reports, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has explicitly stated that international law does not allow for the imposition of such fees on passage through the Strait of Hormuz. IMO pointed out that according to international law, the Strait of Hormuz belongs to an international waterway and is subject to transit passage system. Any unilateral toll collection behavior lacks legal basis.
It is currently unclear how this fee proposal will be implemented and whether it will receive support from the international community. The temporary memorandum signed between the United States and Iran last month stipulated that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would not be charged any fees.
If this proposal is pushed forward, the impact on freight forwarders will mainly be on several levels:
Cost transfer pressure
If 20% of the cost of goods is calculated based on the value of the goods, the impact on high-value goods will be much higher than that on low value goods. A container ship loaded with electronic products may incur a cost of 20%, which could reach millions of dollars. This cost will ultimately be passed on to the cargo owner through freight and surcharges. However, if the charges are fixed based on the vessel or container, the impact on individual containers can be relatively controllable. It is currently unclear on what basis the proposed "20%" is calculated, whether it is based on cargo value, freight, or vessel tonnage? This will be the key variable that determines the actual impact.
Rising uncertainty in insurance and shipping costs
During the previous conflict in Hormuz, war insurance rates had skyrocketed significantly. The unilateral "takeover" of the strait by the United States and the imposition of fees could trigger countermeasures from Iran, further pushing up insurance costs and freight premiums.
Middle East route pricing needs to reserve flexibility
At present, the proposal is still in the announcement stage, and there is great uncertainty in the implementation details, international response, and legal challenges. It is recommended that freight forwarders involved in Middle Eastern routes reserve sufficient flexibility in their recent quotations to avoid cost inversion due to policy changes.
Follow up on future developments
The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has clearly opposed this proposal, and the international community's response and subsequent games will determine the final direction of this proposal. It is recommended to continue to monitor relevant developments, especially whether shipping companies will adjust their berthing arrangements for Middle Eastern routes as a result.
