Donald Trump’s campaign to block a climate agreement for the world’s shipping industry appeared to be heading for the rocks as nearly 100 nations gather in London to approve a UN-backed plan to decarbonise the sector.

The Trump administration has threatened to impose sanctions against countries that vote to approve the International Maritime Organization’s Net Zero Framework to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, but there was increasing support for the scheme when it was debated at the IMO’s headquarters ahead of a final agreement in coming days.

After nearly two years of fraught negotiations, there was a breakthrough when 63 members passed the framework in April, including China, Brazil, the EU, the UK and India, while 16 countries opposed it, led by fossil fuel producers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.