The administration of President Donald Trump has sent a warning to the international community that it will take "reciprocal measures" if carbon taxes are imposed on American ships, writes "Politico".
In a letter sent from Washington to embassies of countries participating in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations in London, the United States categorically opposes the introduction of any economic measures against the country's ships.
"President Trump has made it clear that the United States will not accept international environmental agreements that unfairly burden American interests," says the letter, seen by "Politico".
The talks, which run from April 7 to 11, focus on whether to regulate shipping emissions through carbon trading or a universal tax. The United States, however, rejects both options.
"Accordingly, we must be clear that the United States rejects any attempts to impose economic measures on its ships based on greenhouse gas emissions or fuel choice," the letter states.
The Trump administration has warned that if such "manifestly unfair" measures are adopted, it will consider retaliatory measures to offset the imposed fees and possible damage to the American economy. The US is also calling on other countries to also withdraw from the discussions on the subject.
"The US is not participating in the negotiations of the Third Committee on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the IMO and urges your government to reconsider its support for the measures under consideration," the letter also says.
The change in the US position is a sharp reversal from the previous Joe Biden administration, which actively participated in the negotiations. According to Anais Rios of the non-governmental organization Seas at Risk, this boycott by the US is a new position. However, she stressed that Washington cannot block the process alone.
"There are 175 countries in the room and the delegates are rolling up their sleeves to find the best way forward. One country trying to play the role of a destroyer does not change the fact that global cooperation is the real headline here," Rios said.
The letter is not limited to criticizing the IMO. It also criticizes the broader international environmental framework. The US is urging the UN to stop trying to expand initiatives stemming from the Paris Agreement to other forums. The letter says that these measures serve primarily as "an attempt to redistribute wealth under the guise of environmental protection."