US, Gulf countries reject possibility of tariffs in Strait of Hormuz

DOHA: The United States and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have ruled out any attempts to impose tariffs on transit in the St...

DOHA: The United States and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have ruled out any attempts to impose tariffs on transit in the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement issued after a ministerial meeting in Manama, Bahrain.

"The Ministers also emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, noting that free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation, including the right of transit passage as guaranteed under international law, remains essential to regional and global security," the statement reads. "The Ministers rejected any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the Strait."

The sides also welcomed a joint initiative by Oman and the International Maritime Organization on the launch of an evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region.

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