The United States has issued a strong warning ahead of the upcoming UN vote on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero framework for international shipping. On Friday, US officials said that any countries supporting the plan could face visa restrictions, economic penalties, and other retaliatory measures.
Next week, UN member states are set to vote on the IMO proposal aimed at achieving net-zero emissions in global shipping, a sector responsible for about 80% of world trade and roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions.
Many major container carriers, under growing investor pressure to address climate change, have expressed support for a unified international regulatory framework, seeing it as essential for accelerating decarbonization. However, several of the world’s largest oil and energy companies have voiced serious concerns, warning that the IMO’s proposal could harm global economic stability.
“The Administration firmly rejects this IMO proposal and will not tolerate any actions that increase costs for our citizens, energy suppliers, shipping companies, and their customers, as well as for tourists,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a joint statement.
According to the statement, the plan effectively creates an “unauthorized global tax regime” that would impose punitive and regressive financial penalties on IMO member states.
In response, Washington is reportedly considering countermeasures against countries that back the initiative — including banning ships flying their flags from entering US ports, imposing visa restrictions, and sanctioning officials “who promote activist-driven climate policies.”
Supporters of the IMO plan argue that without a unified global framework, the maritime industry will face a confusing patchwork of national rules, rising costs, and little real progress in reducing emissions that contribute to global warming.
