According to Bloomberg, the global shipping industry is preparing for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) upcoming decision to implement a worldwide carbon levy, a measure that has already prompted warnings from the United States about potential retaliatory tariffs and trade actions.
Bloomberg reported that the IMO proposal could impose a carbon charge of up to $380 per metric ton on ships that fail to meet specific emissions-reduction targets. The regulation, expected to take effect in 2027, with payment obligations beginning in 2029, aims to cut the maritime sector’s greenhouse-gas emissions while accelerating the adoption of low-carbon fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.
The scheme could generate over $10 billion annually, Bloomberg said, with funds directed to a global decarbonization program designed to incentivize cleaner vessels and new technology investments.
However, the U.S. administration has denounced the plan as a “global carbon tax” that would unfairly impact American industries. Bloomberg noted that U.S. officials have hinted at possible tariffs, visa restrictions, or port access limits against nations supporting the proposal.
Despite Washington’s opposition, most IMO member states and leading industry groups—including the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)—expect the measure to pass by a two-thirds majority, establishing the first global emissions pricing mechanism for any industrial sector.
Experts cited by Bloomberg warned that while the levy could speed up shipping’s decarbonization, it may also raise transport costs and intensify trade frictions if global alignment falters.
If adopted, the IMO carbon levy would mark a historic turning point for the maritime sector, steering the industry closer to a net-zero emissions trajectory ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
Source: Bloomberg (October 2025)
Editor’s note: This article summarizes information originally reported by Bloomberg. All facts and figures are attributed accordingly, and no Bloomberg proprietary text has been reproduced.
