UPDATE 2-UN shipping agency delays decision on carbon price for one year amid splits

(Recasts with discussions postponed for a year) By Enes Tunagur and Jonathan Saul LONDON, Oct 17 - A majority of countries at the U.N. shipping agency voted on Friday to postpone by a year a decision on a global carbon price on international shipping, after failing to reach consensus on the emissions reduction measure amid U.S. pressure.


Reuters | Updated: 17-10-2025 20:37 IST | Created: 17-10-2025 20:37 IST
UPDATE 2-UN shipping agency delays decision on carbon price for one year amid splits

(Recasts with discussions postponed for a year) By Enes Tunagur and Jonathan Saul

LONDON, Oct 17 - A majority of countries at the U.N. shipping agency voted on Friday to postpone by a year a decision on a global carbon price on international shipping, after failing to reach consensus on the emissions reduction measure amid U.S. pressure. The decision to delay the deal is a blow to the European Union and other countries including Brazil which have been pushing for the global shipping industry to go greener and set out a price mechanism for decarbonisation. Washington and Riyadh, the world's two largest oil producers, have strongly opposed a carbon price on shipping during talks in London at the International Maritime Organization.

After days of disagreements, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion on Friday to defer discussions for one year, which was passed by a simple majority of 57 countries with 49 opposed who sought to continue with a deal. U.S. President Donald Trump called on IMO member states on Thursday to vote no, saying on his Truth Social platform that Washington would "not stand for this global green new scam tax on shipping and will not adhere to it in any way, shape or form".

"The delay leaves the shipping sector drifting in uncertainty," said Faig Abbasov, director of shipping with environmental group Transport & Environment.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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