The USA continues to oppose the IMO’s CO₂ regime for international shipping. Laura DiBella, Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, has now also joined the US delegation at the negotiations.
The Chairwoman of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Laura DiBella, has intervened in the ongoing deliberations of the IMO Environment Committee MEPC 84 in London. She reiterated the USA’s rejection of the planned “Net-Zero Framework” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
DiBella described the proposal as an “unnecessary tax” on US shippers and ships operating in international waters. According to the FMC, the planned measures could have “anti-competitive and inflationary” consequences. The costs would ultimately be passed on to US consumers.
Among other things, the planned IMO framework provides for greenhouse gas intensity requirements for merchant ships and levies for non-compliant units. The revenue is intended to help reduce the additional costs of alternative fuels and finance the energy transition in the shipping industry. Many industry members see this as a necessary global approach to avoid a “patchwork” of regional regulations.
FMC points to possible countermeasures
It is noteworthy that the FMC refers in its statement to US powers in connection with so-called “unfavorable shipping conditions”. According to this, the authority can take countermeasures under certain conditions, including fines or, in individual cases, restrictions on foreign ships calling at US ports.
However, no concrete steps have yet been announced. It therefore remains to be seen whether and how the FMC would apply its powers in the event of a subsequent IMO decision.
DiBella’s participation in the talks is seen as a political signal. The US delegation to IMO climate negotiations is traditionally led primarily by the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the State Department. The fact that the FMC is now also making a visible appearance indicates a broader counter-position on the part of the US government.
Decision had already been postponed
The planned Net-Zero Framework was postponed by one year in October 2025 following controversial discussions at an extraordinary MEPC meeting. The USA had been one of the opponents of the proposal. The postponement was decided by 57 votes to 49.
At the same time, several major shipping associations, including Bimco, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Shipping Council (WSC), had recently appealed to the IMO member states to stick to a global emissions framework. They warn against divergent regional regulations, which the industry believes could create additional complexity and distort competition.
At MEPC 84, discussions on medium-term climate measures are to be continued in a working group, among others. However, a final decision on the postponed Net-Zero Framework is not expected until another extraordinary MEPC meeting later in the year.
