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US Threatens IMO Countries Voting for Net Zero

[ October 16, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

The U.S. State Department said it plans to penalize countries that approve and participate in the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s plan to decarbonize shipping through a carbon fee.

The IMO assembled on Oct. 14 to discuss and potentially vote on its Net Zero Framework, or NZF, which would require ships to use cleaner fuels or technologies. Ships that pass an emission threshold would be assessed a carbon fee, while compliant ships would be rewarded.

The Trump administration, however, referred to the carbon fee as “the first time that a UN organization levies a global carbon tax on the world,” citing reports that would increase global shipping costs “by as much as 10 percent or more.”

The action released Oct. 10 by State, Energy and Transportation departments said any country which votes “yes” on the IMO’s NFZ could face:

• Port fees on vessels flagged, owned or operated.

• Blocked port entry.

• Impose visa restriction on increased costs and administrative burdens for crew changes.

• Place sanctions on officials sponsoring activist-driven climate policies.

• Impose “commercial penalties stemming from U.S. government contracts.”

• “Evaluating sanctions on officials sponsoring activist-driven climate policies that would burden American consumers, among other measures under consideration.”

“Our fellow IMO members should be on notice,” the order concluded.

A final vote was expected by Oct. 17 at the closing of the IMO’s extraordinary Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in London. The vote would require two-thirds majority of member states.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez admitted the NZF is “not perfect,” but attempts to address the concerns of those who believe the NZF goes far enough, and others who feel it places too much of a burden on the maritime industry.”

The Trump administration used the same claim it made against the implementation of tariffs: namely that foreign countries and entities will pay the imposed costs, despite vast evidence that imposed fees and restriction are passed on to shippers and, ultimately, the consumer

Container shipping expert John McCown said via LinkedIn: “Imposing fees or restrictions on ships or shipping will merely increase the cost of shipping to and from the U.S. and hence place the financial cost on the U.S. exporters and importers. I can’t help but think of the old saying: ‘Cutting off your nose to spite your face.’ ”

Tags: International Maritime Organisation