Carbon tax setback casts shadow over Global Maritime Forum in Antwerp
The Global Maritime Forum, which aims to drive sustainability in the shipping industry, opened its annual meeting in Antwerp this week under a cloud of disappointment. The mood was subdued on Tuesday following the decision to postpone a long-awaited global carbon tax on shipping, resulting in a major setback for climate efforts in the sector.
The vote, initially scheduled for 17 October in London, was delayed by a year after major oil-producing nations, notably the United States and Saudi Arabia, exerted pressure within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN’s maritime arm.
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever during a gathering of the Global Maritime Forum on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 in Antwerp. The Global Maritime Forum brings together approximately 220 leaders from across the maritime sector who are committed to addressing the most pressing issues facing the industry. © BELGA VIDEO ROBBE VANDEGEHUCHTE
For many participants in Antwerp, the postponement was a heavy blow. Numerous Belgian companies, as well as Chinese and Indian firms attending the forum, have invested heavily in “greening” their operations in recent years. The prospect that a carbon tax may not be implemented before 2030 left many frustrated. Still, some industry leaders remain optimistic. “The solution will come from cheaper technology, not regulations,” said Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH.
Resilience and integration
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever urged persistence despite the setback. In his opening remarks, he stressed the importance of pursuing bilateral green corridors, even as global progress stalls. As a free-market advocate, De Wever also warned of a worrying shift towards protectionism. “No shipping means no shopping,” he said. “We’re essentially going back to the past centuries, with trade tariffs and the like. These uncertainties won’t disappear anytime soon. We have to adapt.”
De Wever criticised internal European rivalries, arguing that Germany and France often outmanoeuvre Belgium by offering companies greater advantages. He called for “even further integration” of the European market and highlighted the need for an Integrated Maritime Security Chain that would strengthen the continent’s maritime and military coordination.
Tensions within International Maritime Organisation
An IMO agreement reached in April had outlined a roadmap for gradual decarbonisation of shipping from 2028, with net-zero emissions targeted by 2050. Last week’s vote was meant to formally seal that deal. Instead, it was derailed, reportedly by intense lobbying from Washington and Riyadh.
According to industry sources, US president Donald Trump and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman personally pressured member states and their representatives, with threats of trade retaliation. Belgium’s Directorate-General for Shipping confirmed that there had been “very aggressive lobbying” by certain countries. Many attendees in Antwerp viewed the outcome as proof that Europe had allowed itself to be divided.
“It’s a bit of a north-south story,” said Peter Claeyssens, Belgium’s director-general of shipping. “Countries like Greece and Cyprus are slowing down. We, the north, continue to invest in green technology. The United States is using pure divide-and-conquer tactics.”
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that the United States would “under no circumstances” accept a carbon tax, warning that countries backing the deal could face visa restrictions, higher tariffs or extra port fees.
Shipping, which, like aviation, is not covered by the Paris Climate Agreement, would become the first sector to impose binding reduction targets on itself under the agreement. The postponement is therefore more than just a bureaucratic delay, it marks a major setback for climate diplomacy, one keenly felt this week in Antwerp’s port.
#FlandersNewsService | Port of Antwerp © PHOTO PIERRE ROUANET LA VOIX DU NORD
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