America in Brief

The United States rejects a U.N. global shipping tax, John Bolton faces federal charges, and the government shutdown continues.

Shipping containers at the Port of Miami in Miami, Fla., on Aug. 7, 2025. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

US Rejects IMO Call for Emissions Penalties on Shipping

The United States rejected a proposal by a U.N. agency to impose emissions penalties on the international shipping industry, with President Donald Trump calling it “a global Carbon Tax” in a post on Truth Social, and he called on countries to vote against it.

Passed in April, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 by penalizing ships that don’t meet fuel standards.

The Trump administration released a statement on Aug. 12 opposing the proposal and threatening sanctions against countries that support the proposal.

Trump further wrote, “We will not tolerate increased prices on American Consumers or, the creation of a Green New Scam Bureaucracy.”

On Oct. 17, the IMO voted in London to adjourn the framework for a year.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks to reporters at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington on Aug. 17, 2022. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

John Bolton Faces Espionage Charges

John Bolton, former national security advisor to Trump during his first term, pleaded not guilty on Oct. 17 to charges of retaining classified information.

Bolton is facing 18 charges of sharing and retaining sensitive information under the Espionage Act, which were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on Oct. 16.

These include transferring top-secret information using personal email accounts and retaining classified documents at his home.

He served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term from April 2018 until September 2019.

FBI Director Kash Patel released a statement on Oct. 16: “Weaponization of Justice will not be tolerated.”

Tundra trucks and Sequoia SUVs exit the assembly line as finished products at Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, on April 17, 2023. Jordan Vonderhaar/Reuters

US Imposes 25 Percent Tariff on Medium and Heavy Trucks

The United States is imposing a 25 percent tariff on medium and heavy truck imports starting Nov. 1.

Trump signed a proclamation on Oct. 17 in a bid to ignite the American truck industry and protect national security.

A 10 percent levy is also being placed on buses, which includes “school buses, transit buses, and motor coaches.”

Mexico is the largest exporter of medium and heavy trucks to the United States, exporting around $15.4 billion worth of goods in 2024, with Canada next at $4.2 billion, followed by Japan with $550 million.

The U.S. Capitol building during the government shutdown on Capitol Hill on Oct. 15, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

US Government Shutdown Continues

The United States government is now in its third week of shutdown as the Senate rejected a vote on a Republican-backed funding bill for the 10th time on Oct. 16.

The government shut down on Oct. 1, over disagreements on the annual budget. To open again, the Republican majority Congress is dependent on Democratic votes, who are unwilling to come to the table due to disagreements over health care subsidies that are set to expire in 2026.

Republicans say that is a separate issue from the annual budget.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), on Oct. 13, expressed his concern to reporters at the Capitol.

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” he said.