Competitiveness and Leakage Concerns and Border Carbon Adjustments

61 Pages Posted: 10 Dec 2012

See all articles by ZhongXiang Zhang

ZhongXiang Zhang

Tianjin University - Ma Yinchu School of Economics

Date Written: December 10, 2012

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the literature on competitiveness and leakage concerns associated with differentiated climate abatement commitments among countries. The literature reviewed is not exhausted, but it is sufficient to provide a balanced view of both academics and policy circles. Section 2 discusses how to identify the sectors at a risk of carbon leakage. Section 3 examines ex ante estimates of potential carbon leakage rates, and explains why they differ from ex post results of environmental tax reforms and greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes that have been implemented in the European Union. Section 4 discusses broad policy options to address competitiveness and leakage concerns, and compares which anti-leakage policy, border adjustments or output-based allocation, is more effective to limiting carbon leakages or mitigating production loss in the sectors affected. Given that border carbon adjustment measures are incorporated in the U.S. proposed congressional climate bills to level the carbon playing field and could have potential conflicts with World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions and practical difficulties associated with their implementation, Section 5 discuses in great detail the WTO consistency, the effectiveness and methodological challenges of border carbon adjustment measures. The paper ends with some concluding remarks.

Keywords: emission trading, competitiveness, carbon leakage, emissions allowance requirements, carbon tariffs, border carbon adjustments, grandfathering, output-based allocation, World Trade Organization

JEL Classification: F18, F47, O13, O24, O31, O44, Q37, Q42, Q43, Q48, Q54, Q55, Q56, Q58, R13, R15

Suggested Citation

Zhang, ZhongXiang, Competitiveness and Leakage Concerns and Border Carbon Adjustments (December 10, 2012). FEEM Working Paper No. 80.2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2187207 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2187207

ZhongXiang Zhang (Contact Author)

Tianjin University - Ma Yinchu School of Economics ( email )

92 Weijin Road, Nankai District
Tianjin 300072
China
+86 22 87370560 (Phone)

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