FX.co ★ Trump intends to impose 20% levy on cargoes passing through Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would charge a 20-percent levy on the value of all cargoes transported through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. On his Truth Social account, the American leader declared the US the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,” saying the proceeds would be used to cover military expenses for securing the region. Trump added that the strait would remain open, but Washington would impose a blockade on vessels from Iran and its clients, depriving them of access to the route. In Tehran, officials responded that under no circumstances would they allow the US to interfere in the management of the strait.

The White House initiative has sparked a wave of concern in energy markets. Analysts interviewed by CNBC warn that imposing the tariff would be equivalent to inflating the oil price by about $16 per barrel. According to experts at Lipow Oil Associates, Trump’s proposed levy negates the market optimism that followed the recent signing of a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran. Moreover, Citi emphasized that an attempt to forcibly collect payments in the Persian Gulf sharply raises the risk of a direct military confrontation in the near term.

Catalyst Energy Infrastructure Fund warned of long-term threats to logistics. If exporters lose the ability to safely export petroleum products from the region, onshore oil storage tanks will quickly be filled to their full capacity. As a result, producers would have no choice but to halt drilling at wells. This could trigger an enormous shortage in the global market, the scale of which would be far more severe than potential losses from mere infrastructure damage.