US rejects UN shipping net-zero plan, warns of retaliation against supporters
WASHINGTON: The United States on Tuesday (Aug 12) rejected a “Net-Zero Framework” proposal by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, warning it would retaliate against countries that support the measure.
The announcement, made in a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, comes ahead of an October vote at the United Nations’ shipping agency on adopting the plan.
It also marks a continuation of the Trump administration’s combative trade posture, with officials drawing parallels to its tariff actions targeting China, India and Brazil, as well as recent withdrawals from climate-related regulations.
'UNEQUIVOCAL' OPPOSITION
“The Trump Administration unequivocally rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists,” the statement said.
“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 endeavour fail,” it added.
The US, one of 176 IMO member states, pulled out of talks on the net-zero framework in April and urged others in a memo to reconsider backing the measure.
GLOBAL VOTE IN OCTOBER
Member states agreed in April to adopt the framework following a simple-majority vote, with 63 countries including China, Brazil and EU nations in favour, and 16 opposed. The October vote would require a two-thirds majority of the 108 states that ratified the legislation.
IMO voting only takes place if member states cannot reach consensus.
INDUSTRY PRESSURE FOR GREEN SHIFT
Ocean vessels carry around 80 per cent of world trade and account for nearly 3 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The sector faces pressure from environmentalists and investors to implement tougher climate measures, including a carbon levy.
Many large shipping firms have already pledged to achieve net-zero operations by 2050. Industry groups have signalled conditional support for the IMO proposal, while seeking incentives such as levies on polluting fossil fuels to help offset the higher cost of green alternatives.
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BROADER CLIMATE STANCE
President Donald Trump has also pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, which commits signatories to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Washington is simultaneously participating in UN talks on a global plastics treaty, but has warned it will not back provisions imposing caps on plastic pollution or banning certain chemicals.
