Major negotiating camps in the upcoming climate deal are lapsing into ‘a new and dangerous form of trade and technology protectionism’ in the name of climate change. The unfortunate turn of events is ‘poisoning North-South relations in the two negotiating arenas on climate change and on trade.’ It seems that developed countries, especially the US, are thinking of employing ‘unilateral trade measures, such as imposing tariffs, taxes or charges on the products of developing countries, on the grounds of combating climate change.’ Europe is said to be following suit.
In what may be construed as stringent measure, a new piece of legislation ‘gives the US president authority to impose financial charges (or taxes) on some imports coming from developing countries that in the US view are not taking enough action to curb their greenhouse gas emissions.’
The US House of Representatives has also sought protectionism against technology transfer through three more US bills, ‘that prevent US negotiators in the UN Climate Change Convention from agreeing to any relaxation in the rules or enforcement of intellectual property.’
Developing countries repel the moves. Indian political leaders ‘protested the threat of US carbon tariffs,’ while China’s Commerce Ministry ‘criticized the protection element in the US climate bill.’ Developing countries have warned against the unilateral trade-restrictive measures of developed countries. ‘Developing countries claim that linking trade measures to climate and the environment are unjust because they have lower technological capacity and thus cannot match the developed countries.’
