“Unfair, Inflationary Policy That Puts Florida’s Ports and American Businesses at Risk”
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and member of the Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after governments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) voted to postpone a vote on adoption of a global carbon tax on emissions produced by maritime vessels by one year:
“Postponing the vote on adoption of the world’s first global carbon tax is a major win for American workers, consumers and businesses. I commend Ambassador Waltz, Secretary Rubio and the Trump administration for their strong leadership in pushing back against this misguided UN scheme that would have raised shipping costs, distorted global trade and handed a strategic advantage to China.
“In June, I urged U.S. trade negotiators to treat this carbon pricing framework as part of China’s broader non-market strategy to dominate global shipbuilding, and I’m glad to see that message was heard. This delay gives us time to fight back against an unfair, inflationary policy that puts Florida’s ports and American businesses at risk. We must continue working to permanently defeat this global tax and protect U.S. sovereignty, competitiveness and maritime strength.”
In June, Buchanan wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer opposing the IMO’s global carbon tax on emissions. In the letter, Buchanan urged Greer to treat the proposed tax as a continuation of the non-market tactics identified in the recent Section 301 investigation into China’s shipbuilding sector and ensure that future trade negotiations take into account each country’s vote on the proposal. Earlier this week, Buchanan and Daniel Blazer, co-founder of World Direct Shipping, penned an op-ed in RealClearWorld urging the Trump administration to reject the IMO vote.
