The United States has warned of potential visa restrictions and sanctions against countries that support a United Nations proposal aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ocean shipping. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to vote next week on the Net-Zero Framework, which targets carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping sector, responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gases.
While many large container shipping companies advocate for a global regulatory framework to accelerate decarbonization, some major oil tanker firms have expressed serious concerns about the proposal. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have firmly rejected the plan, arguing it could impose significant economic risks and create an unauthorized global tax system affecting all IMO member states.
Supporters of the IMO proposal contend that without a unified regulatory approach, the maritime industry could face inconsistent regulations and rising costs, ultimately failing to effectively address climate change. In response to countries backing the proposal, the U.S. is contemplating measures such as blocking vessels from those nations from entering U.S. ports and imposing sanctions on officials promoting these climate policies.
