US Officials Accused of 'Gangster Tactics' to Block UN Maritime Emissions Deal

More than 100 nations were poised to approve a historic International Maritime Organization agreement in October 2025 that would have imposed the world's first carbon emissions fee on heavily polluting cargo ships. The deal, negotiated over several years, was designed to push the shipping industry toward cleaner fuels and help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Shipping accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and transports 90% of global trade.

However, the Trump administration launched what diplomats called an unprecedented intimidation campaign to kill the agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally called officials in multiple countries threatening financial penalties, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright contacted officials in about 20 nations. The threats included visa revocations for diplomats and their families, denial of port access for sailors, trade tariffs, sanctions, and increased fees for ships docking at US ports. Officials from smaller, economically dependent nations were specifically targeted, with some delegations summoned to the US Embassy in London for intimidating discussions.

The campaign proved successful, with the agreement ultimately voted down 57-49 in favor of a one-year delay, effectively killing the deal. The Trump administration celebrated the victory as blocking what they called a "global carbon tax," while critics condemned the tactics as undermining diplomatic norms and multilateral governance. The incident occurred as world leaders met in Brazil for UN climate talks, which the US boycotted for the first time in 30 years after withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.