The U.S. Trump Administration bullied the International Maritime Organization into postponing for one year a vote on a Net-Zero Framework, including a carbon tax, aimed at decarbonizing the global shipping industry.
The state department issued a statement threatening to:
- Pursue investigations and consider potential regulations against countries that vote in favor of the framework and potentially block framework and potentially block vessels registered in those countries from U.S. ports;
- Impose visa restrictions including an increase in fees and processing, mandatory re-interview requirements and/or revisions of quotas for maritime crew member visas;
- Impose commercial penalties stemming from U.S. government contracts including new commercial ships, liquified natural gas terminals and infrastructure, and/or other financial penalties on ships flagged under nations in favor of the NZF;
- Impose additional port fees on ships owned, operated, or flagged by countries supporting the framework; and
- Evaluate sanctions on officials sponsoring these climate policies.
The measure, which has been in negotiations for years, was expected to pass with ease. Though the U.S. objected to the vote in April, when it passed with roughly 90% of the vote, country representatives did not stay for the vote. This time the country launched a campaign of threats and bullying that many reported as unprecedented in the organization.
Shipping is responsible for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While various regions have their own emissions reduction frameworks, the Net-Zero framework would have created a set of regulations that apply equally for shipping companies whose vessels compete globally. Many U.S. companies have expressed that they will only work with companies aiming for low or zero-emission shipping.
