U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “very serious” about a proposal to charge ships a 20% toll for passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

Trump initially proposed the fee as a way for the United States to recover the costs of protecting maritime traffic through the waterway during heightened tensions in the Middle East. (PolitiFact)

---

Proposal Targets Global Shipping

The proposed toll would apply to cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass.

Analysts said such a fee could substantially increase shipping costs and raise concerns across global energy and trade markets. (CBS News)

---

Questions Over Feasibility

Legal experts and shipping industry representatives have questioned whether the United States could legally impose a toll on vessels using an international waterway.

Several experts argued that such a move would be unprecedented and could conflict with established international maritime law. (PolitiFact)

---

Proposal Later Dropped

Although Trump emphasized that he was serious about the proposal, he later announced that he would drop the 20% toll plan in favor of pursuing trade and investment agreements with Gulf states following discussions with regional leaders. (Reuters)

---

Bottom Line

President Trump said he was “very serious” about imposing a 20% toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but the proposal faced legal and economic scrutiny and was later withdrawn in favor of trade and investment agreements with Gulf partners. (Reuters)

---

Tags: Donald Trump, United States, Strait of Hormuz, Shipping, Trade, Middle East, Politics, Breaking News, Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz, Trump toll, shipping toll, U.S. trade, Middle East, global shipping, maritime trade