China may retaliate over ETS charges
China will hit European carriers with “similar penalties” if Chinese carriers are fined for not declaring their carbon emissions in relation to the controversial EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), an industry body has said.
The EU has given Chinese airlines until mid-June to declare their carbon data, with the threat of fines for non-compliance, but the carriers are expected to ignore the ultimatum.
Bloomberg reported the China Air Transport Association’s Secretary-General, Wei Zhenzhong, as saying he “expects that the Chinese government will impose similar penalties on European airlines swiftly after any EU action”. The comments were made in an interview in Beijing on Sunday.
Wei added however, that he hoped a trade dispute can be avoided.
China’s airlines, including Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, have already missed one deadline relating to the submission of carbon data to EU authorities, and have stated that they will follow the Chinese government’s line on the issue. Beijing has repeatedly stressed its opposition to the ETS and has also placed a ban on the purchase of large Airbus jets in retaliation.
China, like several other countries including India, Japan, Russia and the US, is pushing for a global solution through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ETS issue is likely to figure prominently in the IATA AGM, which kicks off in Beijing today.