At the Extraordinary Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), held from October 14 to 17, deliberations were expected to culminate in the adoption of the IMO Net Zero Framework (NZF)—a global framework aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.

However, the framework was not adopted due to persistent divergence in members. Instead, the members agreed to convene another Extraordinary Session within a year to continue deliberations toward adoption.
Prior to this session, the U.S. government had taken a firm stance against the NZF. In August, it issued an official statement opposing the framework, even hinting at potential retaliatory measures against supporting nations. Furthermore, on October 10, just before the IMO session, Washington reiterated its opposition, outlining specific retaliatory measures such as restrictions on port entry and visa issuance for seafarers of the countries supporting the framework.

This report outlines (1) the overview of the IMO Net Zero Framework, (2) the U.S. government’s response to it, and (3) the policy background behind the U.S. position—particularly the recent shifts in U.S. energy policy.