Trump viewed as biggest threat to the timely introduction of the sulphur cap

President Donald Trump and his administration in Washington are now considered to be the biggest threat to the start of the global sulphur cap due in 51 weeks’ time, according to the latest weekly report from Alphatanker, part of AXS Marine.

“Alphatanker now considers US opposition the greatest threat to the timely introduction of the global sulphur cap,” analysts wrote in the report issued at the end of last week.

Alphatanker reiterated earlier reports carried by Splash that Trump is concerned about the potential for a fuel price spike as the global sulphur cap is introduced as a presidential election cycle gets underway next year.

Keeping an eye on gasoline prices at home, Alphatanker is predicting in a worse case scenario, the US could threaten to leave the IMO unless it gets what it wants, something it admits is unlikely but worth considering, given how Trump has dismissed other international bodies and treaties in his first two years in power.

Any delay sought would likely be for a minimum of 18 months until well after the election has passed, Alphatanker mused.

The analysts stressed any delay was still unlikely, stating they currently rate the chances of any sulphur cap delay occurring at less than 20%, but this is considerably higher than its estimation of six months ago.