Postponement of the decision on the global shipping emissions tax
At a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), member states voted to postpone for a year the decision on the introduction of a global tax on shipping emissions. The initiative aimed to charge about $380 per ton of CO₂ emissions.
According to Bloomberg, the decisive role in the voting was played by the administration of President Donald Trump, which launched a large-scale diplomatic campaign against this decision.
American pressure and diplomatic advance
According to sources in the U.S. State Department, Washington coordinated the actions of several federal agencies to block the tax adoption. The U.S. administration sent an official appeal to 108 countries urging them to reject the initiative.
'President Trump saved America from an absurd climate scam that was destroying our country,' said White House Press Secretary Taylor Rogers.
Allies and opponents
Most European countries supported the initiative in April, but at the last meeting they lost. The USA received support from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia, who voted against the collection plan.
Reactions from environmentalists and businesses
Environmental organizations sharply criticized the decision to postpone, warning of potential consequences for the environment. The owner of Fortescue Metals Group called on the international community not to let pressure overcome justice.
Trump called for a vote against
On the eve of the vote, President Trump urged delegates to reject the proposal for a global green tax on shipping, calling it a scam. Despite active opposition, discussions around the tax will continue into the next year.
Support from the USA and other countries led to the postponement of the decision on the introduction of a global shipping emissions tax for one year. Discussions on this issue will continue, considering the active protests from environmental organizations and the support from the U.S. president.