Well, here’s an interesting turnabout. A Chinese government official has called on China’s trading partners to put a tariff on goods they import from China:
WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) – Countries that buy Chinese goods should be held responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted by the factories that make them in any global plan to reduce greenhouse gases, a Chinese official said on Monday.
“About 15 percent to 25 percent of China’s emissions come from the products which we make for the world, which should not be taken by us,” said Gao Li, director of China’s Department of Climate Change.
Speaking at a forum sponsored by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Gao added that “this share of emission should be taken by the consumers, not the producers” and called the demand a “very important item to make (for a) fair agreement.”
That’s not what he’s saying? Then what the heck is he saying?
Over the last few years exports have accounted for something like 75% of China’s economic growth. If China doesn’t like the negative externalities, e.g. pollution, that come along with the economic growth, they might consider toughening environmental regulations on polluters. Or, heavens forfend, ending the subsidies they pay to exporters.
However, it does seem that Director Gao has happened upon a creative way of blaming China’s customers for the problems caused by China’s policies.
