Analysis Of The Essence And Effect Of Carbon Tariff

Under the background of the persisting influence of economic crisis, the shortage of resources on earth and the increasingly serious climate changes, many countries are beginning to search for a new way of development that coordinates both economy and environment. Now low-carbon economy has become a new trend in the development of international economy. Many countries, especially developed ones, are devising measures to regulate greenhouse gas dioxide, developing clean energy, racing to control a commanding point of economy. On the grounds of carbon leakage and creating a level playing field, developed countries and areas, led by the United States and EU, put forward the border adjustment measures-carbon tariff. On June 26,2009 the House of US passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which contains a provision that would impose trade penalties on countries that do not accept limits on global warming pollution from the year of 2020. Even though carbon tariff has not been effected, it has aroused extensive concern in the international community.Under the above background, the paper takes "Analysis on the Essence and Influence of Carbon Tariff" as a subject, and includes 4 parts:Chapter 1 introduces the background and significance of the topic, the research situation and the main contents of this paper.Chapter 2 elaborates the essence of carbon tariff from four aspects:the reasons of putting forward carbon tariff, its nature, its legitimacy with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and WTO rules and the political roots behind it. Carbon tariff is reasonable on the excuse of carbon leakage and creating a leveling playing ground. But requiring developing countries limiting their emissions based on the standard of developed countries is not fair, which violates the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" established by UNFCC. However, whether carbon tariff is in compliance with WTO rules is still on debate, the WTO offers broad flexibility for the operation of carbon tariff. This paper elaborates the compliance of carbon tariff and WTO rules. Therefore, if scientifically devised, the carbon tariff can be modeled in compliance with WTO. Essentially, whatever reasons for the carbon tariff, the roots behind it is the fact that the developed countries try to maintain their hegemony on economy and politics, and at the same time restrict the fast development of developing countries, especially China.Chapter 3 expounds the impact of carbon tariff from four aspects:its influence on international trade, investment and industrial structure, and the possible influence on China. For a start, the chapter delves into the mechanism of carbon tariff's impact on international trade, investment and industrial structure. The four part of this chapter forecasts the positive and negative effect of carbon tariff on Chinese economy and focuses on its huge negative influence.Chapter 4 puts forward the relevant measures and advice on how to deal with carbon tariff and develop low-carbon economy. Because China has been already the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide, it is better to take action to face the challenge than to object blindly.In Post-crisis era, the world is confronting with the test of economy and environment, and all of the countries endeavor to develop their economy as well as protecting the environment. As a big country in the world, China has been committed to limit the emission of greenhouse gas in recent years. On March 16, Chinese government takes "Active Reactions to the Climate Changes" as an independent chapter in the debut of the National 12th Plan. Confronting with the irresistible trend of low-carbon economy, analyzing carbon tariff and its influence on China is of great significance both in theory and practice.