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The United States has threatened to retaliate against any international tax imposed on ships for its carbon emissions in the midst of crisis talks to agree on such a measure this week.
Washington has urged other members of the UN International Maritime Organization to reconsider its support for the measure, adding that the United States would not attend this week's negotiations, three people close to talks said.
“If such a manifestly unjust measurement goes forward, our government will examine reciprocal measures to compensate for the costs billed to American ships,” read a copy of the American message seen by the Financial Times.
“These measures would impose substantial economic charges on the sector and will stimulate inflation worldwide.”
The intervention is likely to anger the environmentalists and the countries which have led to solid measures to decarbonize expeditions, in particular after President Donald Trump has imposed significant costs on trade thanks to his radical rates.
An American proposal for the billing of fees of up to 1.5 million dollars on each ship built in Chinese calling in its ports has also shaken the maritime transport industry.
On Friday, OMI countries should agree on an economic measure which could include the world's leading prize for carbon emissions from an industry, a development that could have implications for the future orientation of climate regulations.
Those who are particularly exposed to climate change such as the nations of the Pacific Island called for a direct debit up to $ 150 to be imposed on each tonne of carbon emissions from the shipment.
Such a measure on the international regulated maritime industry is also considered by environmentalists as a rare opportunity to start collecting a global fund to combat climate change, some calling for these funds to be directed to poor countries.
The industry, which remains almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels and is responsible for around 3% of global emissions, has been slow to decarbonize due to the limited availability of green fuels which can supply large ships.
As a member of the IMO member, the United States was engaged in an agreement in 2023 to make zero net delivery emissions “by or around” 2050, as well as to define an economic measure to achieve this objective.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has promised to withdraw the United States from various international organizations and agreements, including the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.
The greatest economy in the world has now warned in its message that the objectives agreed for shipping “constantly promoted the use of expensive and unproven hypothetical fuels”, adding that it “rejects all efforts to impose economic measures against its ships according to GHG emissions”.
The United States has declared that it had opposed “any proposed measure which would finance any environmental project or other projects outside the maritime transport sector”, as well as proposals that would give preferential treatment to less developed countries.
Less than 1% of the world shipping fleet was recorded in the United States last year, and the country is considered a less influential player in IMO than in other international forums.
OMI mediators seek to conclude agreements by world consensus, but can put proposals for a vote. Participants in London talks said that the Member States have not yet reached a consensus, with proposals ranging from a levy on each tonne of shipping emissions to a carbon credit negotiation system.
But the last American intervention is in accordance with Trump's combative approach to diplomacy and its ambition to withdraw from existing climatic agreements.
“President Trump clearly said that the United States would not accept any international environmental agreement which undoubtedly or unjustly or unjustly buried the United States or the interest of the American people,” the United States said in its message to OMI member states.
“Although we will not ignore threats to our natural environment, President Trump has promised the American people a return to energy domination.”
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