The global ‘freedom of the seas’ is dying in the Strait of Hormuz—and everyone, everywhere, could pay the tolls

Concerns are rising that de-facto tolling in the Strait of Hormuz, driven by Iran's fee demands, could trigger global bottlenecks and undermine international maritime law. Experts warn this trend may spread to other key waterways like the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Gibraltar, and those impacted by Russia’s war in Ukraine. This decline threatens the centuries-old concept of 'freedom of the seas,' suggesting future global commerce will be more expensive and inflationary.