Why does Hapag-Lloyd call the U.S. plan to impose a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz 'fundamentally wrong'?

Hapag-Lloyd calls the U.S. plan 'fundamentally wrong' because it would levy fees for passage through international waters, which contradicts established principles of freedom of navigation; the company explicitly states that while fees may be justified for man-made infrastructure like the Panama or Suez Canals, they are not applicable to natural international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.

What is the German Shipowners' Association's (VDR) main legal and strategic objection to the proposed Hormuz cargo fee?

The VDR deems the proposed fee 'legally impermissible' as it violates the principle of free passage through international waters, and warns that normalizing such fees at the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent — potentially extending to other critical straits like Malacca — thereby threatening the global maritime trade system and turning civilian shipping into a pawn in geopolitical conflicts.

Hapag-Lloyd Condemns U.S. Plans for Hormuz Cargo Fee as Fundamentally Wrong

Jul 14, 2026

Hapag-Lloyd condemned U.S. plans to levy a 20% fee on Hormuz cargo as fundamentally wrong. While the strait is vital for global oil and gas supplies, the company stated current tensions have no immediate impact on its vessel operations.

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