Peter Eavis

The potential expense of a 20 percent charge to move oil and other goods through the strait has stirred concern among shippers.

Companies desperately want to get their ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, but face mounting risks. “Things are becoming uglier by the minute,” one executive said.

The attacks came after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had reached the highest levels since the start of the U.S. war in Iran.

Increased stockpiles, more pipelines and other tactics could loosen the waterway’s stranglehold on the global economy.

President Trump said more than 200 commercial vessels had safely traveled through the strait. That’s still far fewer than before the start of the war.

U.S. Central Command has helped around 70 commercial ships pass through the strait in the last three weeks, an official said.

Small companies that handle the final delivery are relying on them to skirt New York City traffic. Amazon plans to try the bikes elsewhere, too.

The cost to put food in cans remains high because manufacturers must still import steel from overseas. U.S. Steel plans to reopen a tin-plate factory.

U.S. Central Command and the ship’s owner disagreed on whether the vessel coordinated safe passage with the United States military.

The United States vowed to help tankers navigate the perilous conditions that have kept them stranded in the Persian Gulf, but it remained unclear if companies would try to get out.

The move was intended to ensure the flow of fuel in the United States, but some economists say it might reduce gas prices for consumers only a small amount.

Traffic in the strait has all but halted as Iran renews its attacks, striking two vessels on Wednesday. More than 300 ships linked to Iran have passed through the strait since the war began.

Statements from President Trump and Iran aimed to raise confidence in the safety of the waterway, but shipping experts said risks remained.