On 16 April, the Commission has confirmed its proposal to integrate the shipping companies to the system of emissions trading scheme (ETS), European main tool to combat global warming and meet the Kyoto commitments. Unlike the airline industry, which had deployed lobbying to minimize its integration into the system of emissions trading of greenhouse gases from the European Union, the sector does not appear to oppose such a measure. But being given the stakes economy, the controversy with the United States, strongly opposed to any quota system, is likely to swell.

Increasingly high emissions from shipping will be twice as large as those of air transport and could increase by around 75% in the next 15 to 20 years. However, as stressed Alfons Guinier, Secretary General of the Association of European Community Shipowners, ship carrying 90% of world trade. If he said that the maritime sector "not opposed" to integrate the European system of emissions trading, "provided they continue to discuss the modalities," the shipowners are concerned about the bear burden of additional costs related to reducing CO2 emissions, while the foreign carriers could continue to pollute freely.

This has the potential to provoke a transatlantic dispute similar to that caused by the draft EU rules in 2006 to impose emissions allowances to airlines to and from European airports from 2012. The United States has threatened to pursue Elsewhere the EU to court if it persists with these projects.

Nevertheless, the threat of unilateral action from the EU, which controls 41% of the world fleet, could stimulate debate.