Trump renews attacks on IMO Net-Zero Framework
US President Donald Trump has signalled that his administration intends to prevent the IMO from adopting a global emissions-pricing mechanism. “Last year, my administration was forced to intervene to stop an obscure UN body, the International Maritime Organization, from secretly establishing a first-ever global carbon tax, very expensive tax, to raise international shipping costs by ...
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to prevent the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from implementing a global emissions-pricing mechanism. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on September 22, Trump alleged that his administration had to intervene to stop the IMO from establishing a carbon tax, which would increase shipping costs by 10-20%, and possibly more.
The U.S. delegation boycotted negotiations at the IMO's 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) meeting in April 2025, leading to the approval of a draft Net-Zero Framework (NZF) with a two-tiered GHG fuel standard. The Tier 1 remedial unit price is set at $100/mtCO2e for 2028-2030. The framework's adoption was postponed by a year in October 2025 due to opposition from the U.S. and several oil-producing countries.
During MEPC 84, Washington called for an "energy-all" approach and joined Liberia, Panama, and Argentina in advocating for the removal of GHG pricing and a revision of the GFI reduction trajectory. If a final text is agreed, the framework could be adopted at the resumed second extraordinary session of MEPC 85 on December 4, subject to confirmation by MEPC 85.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
