U.S. Threatens Tariffs Over UN Ship Emissions Deal, Pressures Nations Ahead of Key Vote

The United States is pressuring countries to reject a United Nations plan aimed at curbing emissions from global shipping, warning of tariffs, visa restrictions, and port levies if they back the measure, officials and sources told Reuters. The Trump administration, seeking to expand U.S. influence in maritime trade, has argued that the draft agreement would overburden the shipping industry while delivering little in terms of emissions reduction.

The deal, negotiated under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), would impose fees on vessels that fail to meet global carbon emissions standards. Shipping is responsible for nearly 3% of worldwide CO2 emissions, and experts warn that without decisive action, emissions could soar as global trade, 90% of which is conducted by sea, continues to grow.

Washington withdrew from negotiations in April and has since threatened retaliation against nations supporting the so-called “Net-Zero Framework.” The Dutch government confirmed it received a warning that supporting the deal could trigger tariffs, while U.S. officials have also approached other IMO members.

The draft deal passed with backing from 63 states, while 16 opposed and 24 abstained. A final vote is expected in October, where a majority is required for adoption. An IMO spokesperson stressed the session would serve as the proper forum to address concerns. However, U.S. threats have raised uncertainty over whether the agreement, considered a key step in global decarbonization, can survive mounting political pressure.

The IMO Net-Zero Framework fight sets the tone for how global sustainability governance handles political pushback, and shipping companies, cargo owners and ports need contingency plans for either outcome. Our energy-transition and supply-chain-and-operations teams help maritime and logistics clients evaluate what different IMO scenarios mean for fleet transition, fuel procurement and Scope 3 disclosure.