U.S. President Donald Trump has denounced the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) proposed Net-Zero Framework as a “Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping,” warning that the United States will retaliate economically against any country that supports the measure when it goes to a vote in London this week.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that the U.S. “will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping, and will not adhere to it in any way, shape, or form.” He urged IMO member states to vote against the plan, arguing that it would damage American consumers and global supply chains.
The Net-Zero Framework seeks to introduce a carbon-pricing regime for international shipping, combining stricter marine fuel-intensity standards with a levy on carbon emissions.
Funds generated would be channelled into an IMO-managed facility to support low-carbon technologies, infrastructure, and transition assistance across the sector.
Senior U.S. officials, including Secretaries Marco Rubio, Chris Wright, and Sean Duffy, reinforced Trump’s stance, warning that the proposal could increase global shipping costs by up to 10 per cent.
They described the measure as an “unsanctioned global tax regime” that would unfairly penalise global trade and national economies.
The administration has also called for reform of the IMO’s voting procedures — urging a shift from the current “tacit acceptance” system to an “explicit acceptance” system.
Under the tacit acceptance approach, amendments or measures are automatically adopted unless a specified number of member states object within a given period. In contrast, the explicit acceptance system requires active approval by a majority of member states before any proposal can take effect.
Washington argues that the latter ensures greater accountability and prevents the automatic imposition of policies lacking broad consensus.
The United States is also considering a series of retaliatory measures against nations supporting the framework. These include higher port fees for their ships, visa restrictions for maritime personnel, increased scrutiny of flagged vessels, and trade penalties linked to government contracts and infrastructure projects.
Despite the U.S. opposition, the European Union has reaffirmed its support for the Net-Zero Framework, describing it as “a significant milestone” in the global effort to decarbonise shipping and ensure fair competition across markets.
If adopted, the framework would apply to vessels over 5,000 gross tonnes — covering about 85 per cent of global shipping emissions — and impose charges ranging from $100 to $380 per metric tonne of carbon dioxide emitted above agreed thresholds.
Revenues, projected at $10–12 billion annually, would be reinvested in green maritime innovation and infrastructure. The scheme could take effect in 2027.
Industry groups have urged governments to support the proposal, warning that without a unified global policy, the shipping industry risks facing a fragmented system of regional regulations that would raise costs and complicate compliance.
Shipping currently accounts for roughly 90 per cent of global trade and around 3 per cent of worldwide carbon emissions.
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