Research On Carbon Labelling System Under WTO

Carbon label is a kind of illustrative label on goods and service, offering consumers the information of carbon dioxide emissions created as a by-product during the life cycle of products and calculated by producers in accordance with certain criteria. Carbon labeling scheme caters to the growing interest of consumers in "green products", and is beneficial for companies to save energy, update technology and transfer production pattern. For the time-being, there are two Carbon label schemes conducted unilaterally among the countries. The first is the mandatory Carbon label scheme, under which the Carbon label scheme develops into a mandatory market access for imports, whereas the second scheme, encouraging the Carbon labeling of products, allows the import of the unlabeled ones. Comparing the two schemes in light of the schemes of WTO, the first scheme is regarded as a new environmental trade barrier and a threat to multilateral trading system,and the judgement of voluntary Carbon labelling scheme should be made case by case. Besides, several suggestions regarding the resolve of disputes of Carbon label and the foundation of the Carbon label scheme in China will be reasoned.The thesis is composed of five chapters except the introduction and conclusion, and main contents of each part are as follows.Chapterl introduces the fundamental knowledge of the Carbon labeling, namely the concept, the carbon-labeling standard, the responsibility of carbon emissions and its impact on consumers, companies and countries.Chapter2discusses developing countries’attitude to Carbon labeling scheme in contrast with developed counties.It then analyzes reasons for such different attitudes.Chapter3discusses the legality of government-sponsored carbon labeling scheme under the WTO agreements.Chapter4makes specific suggestion on how to solve the Carbon labeling dispute under WTO, including basic principles, institutions, specific norms.Chapter5analyzes carbon labeling scheme in China from the aspect of running model and legislative model and makes some recommendations from the international and domestic aspects.