Rubio: The postponement of the vote on the fossil fuel tax by the International Maritime Organization is a major victory for President Trump

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the International Maritime Organization's decision to postpone the vote on imposing a tax on fossil fuels represents a "major victory" for U.S. President Donald Trump, who strongly opposed this move in recent weeks.

The International Maritime Organization had discussed a proposal to impose a global tax on the use of fossil fuels in the shipping sector, as it is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions.

The goal of the tax was to reduce reliance on traditional fuels and encourage the shift towards cleaner energy sources, as part of international efforts to combat climate change.

The Trump administration, along with several major energy-importing and exporting countries, opposed this direction, considering that imposing such a tax would lead to increased shipping costs, and thus raise global commodity prices, in addition to harming the interests of economies that heavily rely on maritime shipping.

Rubio emphasized in his statements that the postponement of the vote reflects the success of U.S. pressures in protecting the global economy from additional burdens, affirming that Washington will continue to work with its partners to find alternative solutions to address emissions without harming international trade.

In contrast, environmental organizations expressed their disappointment with the decision, considering that the postponement represents a retreat from the international community's commitments to reduce emissions, especially since the shipping sector is responsible for nearly 3% of global carbon emissions.

The recent step clearly reflects the international divide between countries calling for strict measures to combat climate change and major economic powers that prioritize protecting their commercial and energy interests.