By Aldgra Fredly
The United States on Aug 12 said it would retaliate against member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that back a net-zero framework proposal encompassing a carbon emission pricing scheme in the international shipping sector.
This comes as member states of the U.N. specialized agency regulating maritime transport are scheduled to vote in October on the adoption of the proposed framework aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping industry to net zero by 2050.
IMO currently has a total of 176 member states, including the United States, which did not take part in the negotiations.
The proposed net-zero framework will require ships to comply with a global fuel standard aimed at gradually reducing the annual greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels, and its measures will become mandatory for large oceangoing ships of more than 5,000 gross tonnage.
IMO said the framework, which is set to take effect in 2027 if adopted, will be “the first in the world” to combine mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across an entire industry sector.
In a joint statement, the Trump administration said it will not support any international agreement that “harms the interests of the American people,” noting that the proposed framework would amount to a global carbon tax on Americans.
“Under this framework, ships will have to pay fees for failing to meet unattainable fuel standards and emissions targets. These fees will drive up energy and transportation and leisure cruise costs,” the statement reads.
The fuel standards, the administration said, would give an advantage to China by requiring the use of expensive fuels that are not yet widely available, while also precluding the use of technologies in which U.S. industry leads, such as liquefied natural gas and biofuels.
The administration said it “will not tolerate” any action that raises costs for U.S. citizens, energy providers, or shipping companies, hinting at possible measures against countries that back the proposed framework.
“Our fellow IMO members should be on notice that we will look for their support against this action and not hesitate to retaliate or explore remedies for our citizens should this endeavor fail,” it stated. “We will fight hard to protect the American people and their economic interests.”
The joint statement was issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
The Epoch Times contacted IMO for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
The October vote will require a two-thirds majority of the 108 member states that previously ratified the key legislation aiming to reduce shipping pollution. IMO resorts to voting only if there is no agreement on a regulation among member states.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, which set a goal for countries to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Reuters contributed to this report.
