The Liberian Government formally denies any intention to impose a carbon tax on international vessels calling at its ports
In response to recent reports circulated by some international media outlets, the Government of Liberia has officially clarified its position regarding the regulation of international shipping emissions. In a statement issued on February 4, 2026, in Monrovia, the Liberian Government formally denied any intention to impose a carbon tax on international vessels calling at Liberian ports.
According to the Liberian authorities, articles published notably by TradeWinds and Oracle News Daily suggested that a carbon levy could come into effect as of March 1, 2026. The Government of Liberia described this information as inaccurate, stating unequivocally that no national carbon tax will be applied to international vessels calling at Liberian seaports.
In its statement, Liberia reaffirmed its support for the established international legal frameworks governing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government acknowledged that international shipping operates on a global scale, beyond national boundaries, making it a sector of a complex nature. Consequently, the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping has, by longstanding international consensus, been entrusted exclusively to the IMO.
The Liberian Government further emphasized that unilateral national measures aimed at regulating or imposing market-based mechanisms on international shipping emissions outside the IMO framework would risk undermining regulatory certainty, fragmenting global maritime governance, and disrupting international trade.
Furthermore, the Government of Liberia indicated that it will continue to engage with the IMO and other countries to support the development of globally agreed technical, operational, and market-based measures that are uniform, fair, and equitable, while taking into account developmental realities.
Additionally, the Government recalled the establishment of a National Carbon Market Authority responsible for coordinating Liberia’s participation in carbon markets and climate finance mechanisms under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, in line with nationally determined contributions.
However, it clarified that international shipping emissions are not included in national emissions inventories and are not subject to national carbon trading systems or taxes. Regulation of emissions from ships, including any future carbon pricing or contribution mechanisms, remains under the mandate of the Liberia Maritime Authority, in accordance with relevant IMO instruments.
