The United States has declined to participate in the ongoing climate talks in London, a move announced by the Trump administration, according to reports from Hansa.news Global. The absence of the US delegation marks a significant setback to international efforts aimed at achieving climate neutrality in the shipping sector by 2050.
The 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s is currently underway, with key agenda items including the discussion of CO2 emission charges and the adoption of alternative fuels. However, three delegate seats allocated to the United States will remain unoccupied, signaling a clear rejection of the proposed measures.
USA Opposes Emissions Fees, Threatens Countermeasures
In a statement released by the White House, the Trump administration explicitly rejected any measures that would impose fees on US-flagged vessels based on their CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The administration further threatened to consider countermeasures to offset any such charges levied on American shipping interests.
The IMO’s “net zero framework” proposes an amendment to MARPOL Annex VI, which seeks to establish an international marine fuel standard and an emissions pricing system, similar to the existing FuelEU initiative in Europe. Delegates at this week’s MEPC meeting are tasked with finalizing the draft legislative text.
The IMO’s climate strategy, adopted in 2023, sets the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions in international shipping by 2050. As interim targets, the strategy aims for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2008, and for 5-10% of the energy used in shipping to come from near-zero emission sources by the same date. The strategy also emphasizes the consideration of national circumstances and the climate targets outlined in the Paris Agreement – from which the United States also withdrew under the Trump administration.
Trump Administration Criticizes IMO Climate Goals
The Republican-led government’s statement strongly criticized the IMO’s climate efforts, dismissing them as an “attempt to redistribute wealth under the guise of environmental protection.” The White House also rejected the 2050 climate neutrality target, arguing that it would “nonsensically promote the use of hypothetical, expensive, and untested fuels.”
Despite the US absence, the draft bill is expected to proceed to a unified vote and finalization after this week’s MEPC meeting. Following this, the measures are likely to be adopted at an extraordinary IMO session in October 2025 and are anticipated to enter into force in 2027.
The IMO’s “net zero framework” proposes an amendment to MARPOL Annex VI, which seeks to establish an international marine fuel standard and an emissions pricing system, similar to the existing FuelEU initiative in Europe. Delegates at this week’s MEPC meeting are tasked with finalizing the draft legislative text.
The IMO’s climate strategy, adopted in 2023, sets the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions in international shipping by 2050. As interim targets, the strategy aims for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2008, and for 5-10% of the energy used in shipping to come from near-zero emission sources by the same date. The strategy also emphasizes the consideration of national circumstances and the climate targets outlined in the Paris Agreement – from which the United States also withdrew under the Trump administration.
