US and China Agree No Toll Tariffs in Strait of Hormuz

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi have agreed that no country should impose toll tariffs for crossing the Strait of Hormuz. A spokesperson for the US State Department, Tommy Pigott, told Kyodo News Agency on Tuesday (12/5) that the agreement was reached during a telephone conversation between Rubio and Wang on 30 April. “Both agreed that no country or organisation is permitted to impose toll fees for crossing international waterways, such as the Strait of Hormuz,” Pigott stated. According to him, both sides also agreed that Washington and Beijing need to build a stable, constructive strategic relationship based on mutual respect and reciprocity. The agreement emerges as Iran is reportedly still restricting the main shipping route for oil and gas from the Middle East, making the US-Israel conflict with Iran one of the key issues in the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. Trump is said to be frustrated by the lack of progress in talks to reopen the strait, while domestic petrol prices remain high. Therefore, Trump will ask Xi to “press” Iran to reach an agreement with the United States. China is Iran’s largest buyer of crude oil and serves as a crucial economic lifeline for Tehran. Rubio will accompany Trump’s visit to Beijing along with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump is scheduled to meet Xi on Thursday (14/5) and Friday (15/5).