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South Africa Slams EU's 'Green Fee' as Violation of WTO Norms

16:44, 1 August 2024

Muhammad Nooh Osman

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The EU began phasing in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in late 2023, which is effectively a system of tariffs on carbon emissions when goods imported into the EU are produced abroad. In 2026, the EU will begin phasing in a "green duty" on all goods imported into the EU, a process that should be completed in 2034.

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Pretoria has accused the EU's new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism of unfairly shifting the burden of climate change onto developing countries.

Trade Minister Parks Tau, speaking at a recent BRICS trade ministers meeting, argued that the mechanism, which will gradually introduce a "green duty" on imports from countries outside the EU based on their carbon emissions, contradicts WTO principles of "common but differentiated responsibility" for climate change.

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The South African minister called for a revision of the CBAM, highlighting the potential negative impact on South African exports.

The EU, however, maintains that the CBAM is necessary to ensure a level playing field for European businesses and to incentivize global emissions' reductions. The mechanism will be fully implemented by 2034.