Trump’s new trade war upsets efforts to tackle the urgent issue of climate change

In an article on The Conversation website, Rakesh Gupta, Associate Professor of Accounting & Finance, Charles Darwin University, discusses the impact of the latest trade war on climate change. It does not include the latest changes in the past few days but it does give a good overview of the impact. What Donald Trump’s … Continue reading Trump’s new trade war upsets efforts to tackle the urgent issue of climate change →

EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer writes on the Euractiv website about whether subsidies allowed Chinese firms to submit unfair bids for the construction of a Romanian solar panel park. The probe reflects a hardening stance in Europe towards cheap Chinese imports, which the EU’s solar industry has blamed for the heavy losses and plant closures of several … Continue reading EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market →

The EU’s anti-subsidy investigation of EVs from China is risky

In an article on The Conversation website, Louise Curran, Professor of International Business at TBS Education discusses the potential problems that the EU faces as it sets up its anti-subsidy investigation. The question is how China will react. The EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles is a risky strategy that may backfire In her … Continue reading The EU’s anti-subsidy investigation of EVs from China is risky →

Today’s trade rules are ill-suited for the climate crisis

In an article on The Conversation website, Noah Kaufman, Chris Bataille, Gautam Jain and Sagatom Saha from Columbia University discuss the need to fix global trade rules to try to fix climate change. The US broke global trade rules to try to fix climate change – to finish the job, it has to fix … Continue reading Today’s trade rules are ill-suited for the climate crisis →

India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier

In a news item on the EURACTIV website, India is concerned about CBAM and will raise it at the World Trade Organization. What are your views? India plans to challenge EU carbon tax at WTO Indian plans to file a complaint to the World Trade Organisation over the European Union’s proposal to impose 20% … Continue reading India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier →

Some of the challenges for a carbon-neutral energy transition

International trade agreements are important. However, investor-state dispute-settlement provisions are blamed for impeding government action and that can have a negative impact on environmental policies. An article in The Economist gives a good account of many of the issues at stake. How some international treaties threaten the environment In use for over six decades, … Continue reading Some of the challenges for a carbon-neutral energy transition →

How Canada integrates environmental issues into trade agreements

Trade agreements increasingly integrate environmental issues. For years, the World Trade Organisation has been working on agreements related to environmentally-traded goods. Jean-Frédéric Morin, Laura Mordelet and Myriam Rochette from Université Laval write an article on the Policy Options website explaining about Canadian practice. Maybe there will be lessons for Britain's Brexit negotiators. The environment in … Continue reading How Canada integrates environmental issues into trade agreements →

Strong developments in trade of renewable energy technologies amongst developing countries

The Business Recorder from Pakistan provides good news about trade in renewable energy technologies amongst developing countries. Renewable energy sector: trade among developing states growing rapidly A study shows that renewable energy (RE) trade among developing countries is growing faster than global and North-South RE trade as developing countries, led by China, take advantage … Continue reading Strong developments in trade of renewable energy technologies amongst developing countries →

World Trade Organisation about to re-start negotiations on green goods

After the failure of the Doha Round, the WTO was paralysed for a considerable period. Now the new head of the WTO is trying to get the ball rolling again, according to Shawn Donnan in the Financial Times. Green goods trade talks set to start The world’s leading economies are due on Tuesday to launch … Continue reading World Trade Organisation about to re-start negotiations on green goods →