Via the GWPF, the great war of flying carbon credits appears to be massing on the border.
China has warned the European Union to abandon its controversial carbon tax on airlines or risk provoking a global trade war.
Adding weight to the warning, an industry insider told the Financial Times that the Chinese government was seriously considering measures to hit back at the EU if it insists on charging international airlines for their carbon emissions.
In a case initiated by US airlines, the European Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that the EU’s carbon emissions trading scheme did not infringe on the sovereignty of other nations, and that it was compatible with international law. The change is set to go into effect from January 1.
Chinese airlines have also been preparing an legal challenge in Europe and they still plan to proceed with it, but Chai Haibo, deputy secretary general of the China Air Transport Association, conceded that the European ruling complicated matters as it means they will need to find an alternative reason to challenge the law.
Even if court action fails, Mr Chai was optimistic that concerted global pressure could yet persuade the EU to repeal its law. In the short term, he called on Brussels to delay implementation in light of the intense international outcry that it has provoked.
“Except for the EU, no countries support this,” he said.
He added that several Chinese government departments in Beijing were in the midst of researching possible counter-measures. Chinese airline officials have said before that they might refuse to pay the carbon tax, raising the prospect of a drawn-out legal fight.
The Chinese government has largely stayed on the sidelines of the spat, letting the airlines speak for themselves. In a sign that the industry dispute is escalating to a diplomatic concern, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday called the EU plan “unilateral” and said it should be consulting other countries including China.
Xinhua, the state-owned news agency often used by the government to deliver blunter messages, was more direct.
“This is a trade barrier in the name of environmental protection, and it constitutes an attack on the interests of travellers and the international aviation industry,” it said in an editorial. “It will be difficult to avoid a trade war focused on a ‘carbon tax’ for airlines.”
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Well done China and any other countries that are prepared to stand up to this outrageous political nonsense from the unelected technocrats of Brussels.
This is both a cynical money grab by the EU and also an attempt to garner favour in the left-wing media for its incompetent handling of the euro crisis.
Well well. Cancel that European vacation for next summer. Rio or Machu Pichu or Ho Chi Minh City look interesting. And forget about British Airways and Lufthansa, fly American or Canadian or Singapore Airlines.
How many holes can these people stand in their feet before they completely collapse?
Well, next thing you know, there will be world mandated health care…………………..
This could get interesting particularly if other non-european nations join China’s side. They could cause a lot of tension internally in Europe by say refusing to fly into Paris or Berlin making folk destined for those locations to add another transit point to their journey. They would soon have one Euro country kicking up internally. Divide and conquer. Still I smile when reading China complain about the unfairness of trade protectionism. Pot calling the kettle black wouldn’t you say?
I’m also sure that China is intelligent enough to already know that “global warming” is only a another marxist lie! After all, they have been marxist long enough to realize that by now, have’nt they? Isn’t it scarry to know that we’re the only idiots in the world to believe it? Do you realize that they(Government Scientists) even rationalized that the reason that the ocean temperature dropped a degree last year also is part of global warming? That’s what our CIA loves bout marxism, lying actually is a right written in it’s marxist manifesto, don’t you know?
Could be bad for AirBus if China decides to cancel orders in retaliation, and good for Boeing.
This feels strange, I’m rooting for mainland China vs Europe.
Maybe someone should investigate returning a Yankee Clipper back into service between the US East Cost and Europe as carbon-free transport.
Pretty bad for Airbus sales…..
Boeing will just have to fly all the folk to the climate conferences!
This is extremely poorly timed as it comes at a time when the European Central Bank is hoping that China will purchase European Euro bonds.
Wow, I had seen this airline thing, but didn’t think about the Chinese leading a rebellion. I already knew our milquetoast American government wouldn’t take the appropriate action. The only way to stop this would be for the US, Canada, Japan, and China to retaliate by limiting European airline access to their airspace, or by issuing punitive landing and ATC fees on European carriers.
Of course this sort of action led to the second dip in the Great Depression that turned what would have been a severe recession and market correction into the long drawn out mess it was. I wonder if these watermelons really are intent on the destruction of the economies of the world as a way to usher in world wide socialism.
Thanks China – the EU has been trying to dictate to the rest of the world and finally got called on their own foolishness by the world’s big gun itself – China. And the EU don’t want to mess with China – after all it was China the EU was begging to bail out their sorry socialists butts. The socialists have finally run out of other people’s money.
LMAO – What a great Christmas – the EU is flat broke! Who said there was no GOD? And exactly in what universe was that EU judge who ruled their laws don’t infringe on other nations – how about other nation’s airlines judge? The EU is not asking for a trade war – the EU is DEMANDING a trade war they can’t ever hope to win. A trade war when the EU is flat BROKE? Has anyone over in that socialists dog pound got a functioning brain cell still active?
Could make getting tickets for the Olympic a lot easier!
I suspect the UK might relax the rules for competitors flying in, or it could be a plan to enable team GB to sweep the board.
I remember the boycotts of Russia and the LAGames. Perhaps the Chinese might use the same channel.
Hmmm. So Norway, Switzerland, Moroco, Algeria etc are not members. Airlines are mobile. Can anyone envision an airline hub in Oslo or Zurich instead of London or Frankfurt? Does it matter to UPS or FedEX if they make an non-EU nation a hub and distribute from there? Business is highly mobile. The EU must think they live in a vacuum. Oh wait, nature abhors a vacuum according to my physics books. The EU will therefore be sucked down the drain. (Sorry, used to design vacuum sewer systems in another incarnation.)
Think of that. China and the EU should be besties – Barroso is a Maoist after all.
Yea for China!
Understand that 12 of the 14 Politburo heads (Central Committee) are ENGINEERS.
When I found that out, 2 years ago, I said, “Hum, time to re-evaluate being a COMMIE!”.
Max
Wayne Delbeke says:
December 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Norway is a member of the so called EU economic zone or something. That means that we accept all regulations from EU, but have no saying in EU. Funny situation, dont you think?
If only they’d free Tibet I’d actually like the Chinese
Even the commies don’t want to go along with this. I guess communism only works if other people have to pay for it, huh?
Beesaman says:
December 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm
“Pretty bad for Airbus sales…..
Boeing will just have to fly all the folk to the climate conferences!”
Airbus cares little whether a carrier makes a profit.
The EU bully boys and girls are at it again. They are a royal pain in the butt with their busybody interface and UN style socialism that has caused grief around the world. I can’t wait for the coming meltdown and demise of the EU.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Ukip, said: “With this kind of stealth taxes, Eurosceptics across Europe will take up the slogan ‘no taxation without representation’.” This isn’t about concern for the climate, it’s about money!
In the meantime watch Nigel Farage the only sane MPP from the UK, tell the mandarins where to off in the EU parliament, it’s a delight to see them cringe!
Farage warns the UK against an “economic prison” similar to the one now faced by the Greek people, whose lives are now falling under the control of their creditors: the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
“The biggest threat we face now in Europe is to keep countries like Greece, Portugal, Ireland – even Spain and Italy – trapped inside an economic prison, stripped of their democracy. The governments of Italy and Greece were removed by these bully-boys in Brussels. The bigger threat for them is to stay and die a long economic death,” said Farage.
Nigel Farage: Wake up EU to the misery you’re inflicting on millions!
The Game is Up, The EURO is Finished! Spain & Portugal Nigel Farage Speaks Out
Nigel Farage the sane voice from the EU
Nigel Farage touches quite a few nerves in the EU Parliament
madhouseGreat Speeches
One way to flip this around is for non-EU countries is to reduce taxes (fuel, landing fees etc) for non-EU airlines.
One way to flip this around is for non-EU countries to reduce taxes (fuel, landing fees etc) for non-EU airlines.
Are there that many flights from China to Europe that they are upset about this?
Are they really just worried about Europe moving towards applying carbon tariffs on Chinese imports?
Dear Lord – if there was EVER a time to listen to the British – that time is NOW
This is a war on travel,they want to take it away and they are also using agenda 21 and the TSA is already establishing check points all over the USA.Just look at the map and see how much will be no go zones. http://www.robodoon.com/global_un_agenda_21.htm