China Says No to Carbon Tariff       

On July 3rd, Yao Jian, press secretary of China's Ministry of Commerce, declared China's opposition to carbon tariff.   
    He judged proposal in some nations to levy tariffs on imports from countries that don't control discharge of greenhouse gases, saying "this violates the basic rules of World Trade Organization. The proposal is to protect trade in the name of protecting the environment. This could provoke a trade contradiction".
   On June 22nd, the Lower House of the United States passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which includes such tariffs in an effort to level the playing field between U.S. industry and foreign competitors, and will be effective in 2020. Carbon-intensive imports for the US include mechanical and electrical goods, steel, paper and aluminum-related products. Canada and the European Commission also are considering a similar tariff.
     "China has consistently advocated that the international community faces climate change together" Mr. Yao said, "but this proposal goes against the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol principle that developed countries should bear the bulk of the burden when it comes to reducing carbon emissions."