The US Government has stated, ahead of the IMO MEPC ES2 meeting, that it will not accept any international environmental agreement that burdens the US, regarding the net zero framework (NZF) as the first time that a UN organisation has levied a global carbon tax on the world.
The Administration says it will not tolerate any action that increases costs for US citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers. It quotes some estimates as forecasting that global shipping costs will increase by 10% or more.
The US regards the NZF proposal as an unsanctioned global tax regime that levies punitive and regressive financial penalties, and is considering the following actions against nations that support what it refers to as “this global carbon tax on American consumers”:
- Pursuing investigations and considering potential regulations to combat anti-competitive practices from certain flagged countries and potential blocking vessels registered in those countries from US ports;
- Imposing visa restrictions including an increase in fees and processing, mandatory re-interview requirements and/or revisions of quotas for C-1/D maritime crew member visas;
- Imposing commercial penalties stemming from US government contracts including new commercial ships, LNG terminals and infrastructure, and/or other financial penalties on ships flagged under nations in favour of the NZF;
- Imposing additional port fees on ships owned, operated, or flagged by countries supporting the framework; and
- Evaluating sanctions on officials sponsoring “activist-driven climate policies that would burden American consumers”, among other measures under consideration.
The US says it will move to levy these remedies against nations that sponsor this “European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations” and proposes imposition of costs on countries if they support the NZF.
