The US on Tuesday rejected the “Net-Zero Framework” proposal by the International Maritime Organization, which is aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector, and threatened measures against countries that support it.
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 a vote at the United Nations’ shipping agency to adopt the net-zero proposal, opens new tab in October.
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It also comes as the Trump administration uses tariffs as a tool to influence the behavior of leaders of other nations, including China, India and Brazil, and as the US withdraws support for regulations aimed at curbing climate change.
“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 endeavor fail,” it continued.
The US, one of 176 IMO member states, exited IMO talks on the net-zero framework in April and urged other IMO members in a memo seen by Reuters to reconsider their support for it.
Member states of the IMO agreed on the net-zero framework in April following a vote that required a simple majority, 63 member states including China, Brazil and EU countries voted in favour, while only 16 states voted against.
In October, a vote would require a two-thirds majority of 108 member states that ratified the key legislation aiming to reduce shipping pollution. IMO only resorts to voting if there is no agreement on a regulation among member states.
