U.S. should pay for carbon content of imported goods: Locke

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE56G1A320090717

U.S. should pay for carbon content of imported goods: Locke

Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:05am EDT

By Doug Palmer

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - To address the serious threat of global warming, Americans should be required to "pay" for the carbon content of goods they consume from countries around the world, a top U.S. official said on Friday.

"It's important that those who consume the products being made all around the world to the benefit of America -- and it's our own consumption activity that's causing the emission of greenhouse gases, then quite frankly Americans need to pay for that," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke told the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Locke spoke to the business group after meetings this week with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and other officials on how the two countries could work together to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

Unless China, the United States and other countries begin to reduce output of the heat-trapping gases, the world faces a "catastrophe" in the form of more frequent floods, droughts and rising sea levels, Locke said.

…

[smiley_glad_hands]

1. Oh horse shit, China is the worlds biggest manufacturer and POLLUTER. eom

[kristopher]

2. China doesn't like the House bill, eh?

I'm worried this provision is going to have trouble making it through to the end of negotiations. It is a critical lever to affect the emissions behavior of the developing economies. It could be the difference between a really meaningful piece of legislation and one that is only somewhat better than half assed.

[excess_3]

3. this is crap. ;.. what about US carbon exports?

China is the worlds wealthiest country.
how about them?

[FreakinDJ]

4. Time to "Dump the WTO" and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

We could end 50% of these carbon emisions just by raising tarrifs and producing the same products here in the USA where EPA/Air Quality Standards are a reality

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Has it occurred to you that (in essence) this /is/ a tarrif?

The effect will be to raise the price of Chinese imports, relative to US manufactured products.

[FreakinDJ]

6. 1 we pay to China - the other China pays US

I follow your logic but respectfully disagree

[kristopher]

7. You can "disagree"

But you are WRONG.

[FreakinDJ]

8. Please explain

1. The USA raises tariffs on carbon spewing Chinese made products and then produces them here in the USA under the guiding eyes of the EPA, Clean Water Act, ect ect. The net result is the Carbon footprint is greatly reduced.

2. USA is forced to pay for Carbon emitted in China during the manufacture of goods bound for the USA. But the CARBON is STILL EMITTED into the atmosphere! Will the same tax be applied to goods manufactured in China bound for 3rd world countries. Philippine malls are full of cheap goods manufactured in China. Do you actually believe the WTO will force the Philippines (who is not a member of the WTO) to pay for the carbon footprint it has in Chinese manufacturing - you already know the answer to that question

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. You may want to read the rest of the article

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE56G1A320090717

…

The bill also contains "carbon tariffs" that would allow the United States to slap duties on imports of carbon-intensive goods such as steel, cement, paper and glass from countries that have not taken steps to reduce their own emissions.

…

[excess_3]

10. how is the carbon footprint for Chinese goods, to be determined?

so, we just take their word fir it?