The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has stated its opposition to charging fees for ships transiting maritime waterways, following a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a 20% charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump announced on the social media platform Truth Social that he intended to reinstate a naval blockade on Iran and implement the fee, stating the process would commence immediately. However, he provided no further elaboration on the plan.
A spokesperson for the IMO confirmed awareness of the post and indicated that the agency is awaiting further details. "We have always been consistent on our stance on fees – IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation," the spokesperson stated. "There is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait."
Officials within the shipping industry have voiced apprehension regarding this development, suggesting that such a measure would contravene international law. One official, who requested anonymity, questioned the rationale behind the proposed fee, asking, "How is this going to make it safer to sail through and what guarantees will this give?"
