Vote on carbon tax for shipping postponed for a year under US pressure
The vote on a carbon tax for international shipping was postponed for a year on Friday. This was decided by the member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations agency responsible for regulating maritime transport. The postponement comes under pressure from US president Donald Trump.
An agreement on greening the shipping sector had already been reached in April. All that remained this week was to formally give the green light.
The agreement provides for the gradual decarbonisation of shipping from 2028 onwards. Zero emissions would have to be achieved by 2050. Ships that would not meet the imposed standards would have to pay a tax on their emissions. This money would then be invested in making shipping greener.
However, after the vote in April, the US already threatened “reciprocal measures to compensate for fees charged to American ships” and US president Donald Trump in recent days increased the pressure. On Thursday, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the US would not comply in any way. In addition, countries that were in favour were threatened with visa restrictions, higher trade tariffs or additional port fees.
The shipping industry, which like the aviation sector is not covered by the Paris Climate Agreement, would with the agreement become the first sector to set itself binding reduction targets. The sector is responsible for more than one billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The postponement is a major setback for climate diplomacy, especially in the run-up to the UN climate summit COP30, which will take place next month in Belém, Brazil.
The Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association (KBRV) had hoped that the proposal would be approved. According to the KBRV, a global regulation would strengthen the competitive position of European and Belgian shipowners. It would also be beneficial for shipowners who are already investing in alternative fuels, such as the Antwerp-based maritime group CMB.Tech.
Illustration © PHOTO Imaginechina / Sipa USA