New Delhi: India has expressed concern at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the growing trend of countries using environmental procedures as “protectionist non-tariff measures”. The next day, China also called for multilateral discussions on trade aspects to see how such measures are affecting various countries, especially developing countries.
In a document shared with the WTO in Geneva on Tuesday, India spelled out its concerns regarding four areas – carbon limit measures, environment-based management of minimum residue limits in agriculture, measures related to deforestation and import of commodities. Quantitative import restrictions on the basis of green content. India has argued that in the fight against climate change and protection of the environment, developing and poor countries cannot be bound by the same set of commitments as rich countries.
A day later, in its letter before the WTO committee, China made a case for “dedicated multilateral discussions on trade aspects and implications of certain environmental measures”. China said it wanted members implementing environmental measures with “widespread impact” to submit a written report, and members would then explain the legal basis of the steps, the link between their implementation and environmental objectives, their impact on business , will discuss their consistency with WTO rules. , and their impact on the developing members.
In a recent interview, WTO deputy dg anabel gonzalez had suggested that the Geneva-based body could be a forum for global dialogue on trade-related issues on the environment. The issues raised by India and China come at a time when the EU has set the stage for the rollout of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which includes taxes on products such as steel and aluminium. Developing countries like India, China, Brazil and South Africa opposed the move.
In a document shared with the WTO in Geneva on Tuesday, India spelled out its concerns regarding four areas – carbon limit measures, environment-based management of minimum residue limits in agriculture, measures related to deforestation and import of commodities. Quantitative import restrictions on the basis of green content. India has argued that in the fight against climate change and protection of the environment, developing and poor countries cannot be bound by the same set of commitments as rich countries.
A day later, in its letter before the WTO committee, China made a case for “dedicated multilateral discussions on trade aspects and implications of certain environmental measures”. China said it wanted members implementing environmental measures with “widespread impact” to submit a written report, and members would then explain the legal basis of the steps, the link between their implementation and environmental objectives, their impact on business , will discuss their consistency with WTO rules. , and their impact on the developing members.
In a recent interview, WTO deputy dg anabel gonzalez had suggested that the Geneva-based body could be a forum for global dialogue on trade-related issues on the environment. The issues raised by India and China come at a time when the EU has set the stage for the rollout of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which includes taxes on products such as steel and aluminium. Developing countries like India, China, Brazil and South Africa opposed the move.
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