The US and Saudi Arabia just derailed a global plan to cut shipping emissions<p>The US and Saudi Arabia have managed to derail negotiations regarding a landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions, <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vnl0yxg53o">according to a report by the
BBC[/url]. The deal had <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="
https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/pressbriefings/pages/imo-approves-netzero-regulations.aspx">already been approved[/url] and would have made shipping the world's first industry to adopt internationally mandated emissions guidelines.</p>
<p>Representatives from more than 100 countries had gathered in London to formally approve the so-called global carbon tax, <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="
https://earthgovernance.org/blog/countries-reach-historic-deal-to-cut-shipping-emissions/">after nearly ten years of negotiations[/url]. However, the US government had been pressuring countries to vote "no" on the measure, <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/17/climate/imo-shipping-carbon-tax-trump">threatening tariffs[/url] if met with noncompliance.</p>
<span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>The US also <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/10/taking-action-to-defend-america-from-the-uns-first-global-carbon-tax-the-international-maritime-organizations-imo-net-zero-framework-nzf">threatened other sanctions[/url], including blocking vessels from ports and visa restrictions. President Trump <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115385308751129485">has called it[/url] a "global green new scam." The country <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-exits-carbon-talks-shipping-urges-others-follow-document-2025-04-09/">withdrew from talks back in April[/url], just before the plan was approved.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia instituted a plan to derail negotiations. The country tabled a motion to adjourn talks for a year, at a time when most countries were set to vote on it. That passed by just a handful of votes, with approving votes coming from both the US and Russia.</p>
<p>This essentially destroys the plan, despite technically being just a delay, as timelines will have to be renegotiated. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the outcome a <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="
https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1979209616425644482">"huge win"[/url] for Trump.</p>
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https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IgNcYB6GaI?si=80aaxurapGLHVXH9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Even the shipping industry was on-board with the plan, as it offered consistent global standards that don't currently exist. Industries like certainty. Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, said that the organization is "disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting." He also said that the "industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments."</p>
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