Comments on: China wants Chinese product importers to pay for her pollution

By: Will China turn off their lights tonight? | A China Blog on Suzhou Expat Life

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:44:54 +0000

[...] Ignoring the effort of solidarity in the face of a global environmental crisis seems to be in line with the country’s recent announcement that it would like rich nations to cover the costs of China’s world-warming carbon emissions. [...]

By: Zictor

Zictor — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:49:18 +0000

I agree with Bill. Tax the manufactures and the importers will pay the higher price if they feel it’s worth it.

This whole talk is just Bullshit, from both sides.

By: cc

cc — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:01:18 +0000

I guess the competitions in china are not so well regulated. You can always find some manufacturers that lower their prices by disregarding the environmental laws.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:06:16 +0000

Bill, I agree absolutely that the costs of the pollution should fall on the manufacturer – exported product or not. If the company is owned in full or in part by a foreign company, then they will pay accordingly.

By: Chinamatt

Chinamatt — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:32:27 +0000

If foreign countries don’t want to pay for China’s environmental cleanup, they could always move production back to their own countries and create more unemployment in China. Maybe some jobs will come back to the states for once.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:33:57 +0000

I am all for China to charge for pollution, either taxing the exports directly, or tax the factories that makes these exports. Western countries better be careful about this and not promise to pay the Chinese government directly.

Including the pollution cost in either as an export tax or indirectly raising the price of goods through taxing the factories will adjust the retail price with the pollution cost in the retail price so that consumers can select intelligently. Paying directly by western governments to Chinese government will hide this pollution charge and bias the market.

If pollution cost is charged correctly, the market will reflect what consumers think about pollution, and may reduce demand of polluting goods, or goods from inefficient or polluting factories.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:46:43 +0000

That is indeed quite a lazy cop-out by Li Gao and the gvnmnt he represents.

However, it would be interesting to calculate what percentage of China’s CO2 emissions could be attributed to various countries by means of the goods they imported to China. And, if it even could be calculated, i don’t think it’s too unreasonable that those countries take a slice of the emissions from those imports from China that they so clearly rely and depend on.

Eg: you buy a computer in the UK from a famous American brand, but it was actually made in China by a Taiwanese company. The emissions from production of said laptop are, truly, entirely China’s fault? If not, who should take a cut? The UK, because you bought it there; the US, because that company got it’s product “assembled” (ie: made) in China; or Taiwan; or China because that’s where it’s physically made?

i need a drink.

By: LaoLuo

LaoLuo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:14:35 +0000

China may have a point about developed countries helping to pay the freight on pollution control solutions. By exporting the manufacturing to China as a cost-cutting, profit-motivated opportunity, these countries have also caused China’s pollution levels to rise. They want cheaply manufactured goods without all the extra costs of manufacturing; ie pollution controls, labour costs, etc. China, though, does have the major responsibility for solving its pollution problems as well, after all, she accepted the manufacturing.

By: Kellen

Kellen — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:19:06 +0000

that whole “but our gov’t is so poor” bullshit is about as irritating as perpetually hurt feelings.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:53:35 +0000

I’m with you on this one Ryan (not to say I’m against you on other points): “Climate Change: China’s Argument Du Jour” http://bit.ly/OohUU