WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s stance on international climate cooperation took a sharp turn Friday as senior U.S. officials under President Donald J. Trump warned they would reject and retaliate against a proposed United Nations-led global carbon tax on maritime shipping.
In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Karen Wright, and Transportation Secretary Patrick Duffy said the administration “unequivocally rejects” the Net Zero Framework (NZF) proposal before the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The measure, set for a vote next week, would impose what officials described as the first global carbon tax aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping.
“President Trump has made it clear that the United States will not accept any international environmental agreement that unduly or unfairly burdens the United States or harms the interests of the American people,” the statement read.
Administration officials argued that the NZF would act as an “unsanctioned global tax regime,” raising shipping costs worldwide and threatening U.S. economic and energy security. Internal estimates suggest global freight costs could climb by 10 percent or more under the proposal, which supporters say is needed to meet the IMO’s 2050 decarbonization goals.
The joint statement warned that the United States would consider punitive measures against nations voting in favor of the framework. Potential actions include investigations into anti-competitive practices, port entry restrictions on ships registered under supporting countries, new port fees, visa constraints for foreign maritime crews, and commercial penalties tied to U.S. government contracts for shipbuilding and energy infrastructure.
“The United States will be moving to levy these remedies against nations that sponsor this European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations,” the statement continued. “We will fight hard to protect our economic interests by imposing costs on countries if they support the NZF. Our fellow IMO members should be on notice.”
The proposal before the IMO, backed by several European Union member states and small island nations, seeks to curb greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by creating a financial incentive to cut carbon output. Industry groups have expressed mixed reactions, warning that a carbon levy could raise fuel costs and disproportionately impact developing economies dependent on global trade.
If adopted, the NZF would mark the first time the IMO has implemented a binding carbon pricing mechanism for the maritime sector — an industry responsible for roughly 3 percent of global emissions. The United States’ opposition signals a widening divide between Washington and key European allies over climate policy and international economic governance.
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