- U.S. threatens tariffs, visa restrictions if countries back IMO emissions deal.
- IMO’s Net-Zero Framework aims to cut shipping’s 3% CO2 emissions share.
- Netherlands warned; 63 states initially supported deal, but passage uncertain.
According to US and European officials, the United States has warned countries to reject a United Nations' agreement for reductions in marine fuel emissions or face tariffs, bans on visa applications, limits on port access, and penalties, according to reports on September 4, 2025. The Trump administration sees opportunity to expand U.S.
influence in global shipping that is being stymied by the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its draft deal from April, and which, the United States argues, is burdensome to the industry with little environmental upside. The deal is a charge against vessels that exceed the global carbon emissions standards, as a means to speed up the decarbonization of shipping, which is responsible for nearly 3% of all CO2 emissions.
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In April, Washington left the IMO talks and in August stated that US would retaliate against supporters of the “Net-Zero Framework.” The U.S. State Department has recently contacted IMO member countries asking them to vote against the framework at the extraordinary session in October, with a spokesperson stating that if the deal goes through, they would take retaliatory action, such as tariffs.
The Netherlands was then given a verbal warning about tariffs for supporting the framework, though it is unclear how many other countries were contacted. With the IMO having 176 member countries, it sets the safety and pollution regulations for international shipping.
The first agreement was adopted with 63 states in favor including 16 opposed, 24 abstaining and required a majority to be adopted. Based on sources, it appears that there is less confidence that the agreement would pass if there were more abstentions. If nothing is put in place given that over 90% of global trade is reliant on shipping, unregulated emissions could significantly increase without a common mechanism in place.