Could NZ implement a carbon import tax?

The balance of protecting local businesses and meeting climate change targets is difficult when it comes to things like steel making. (Image: Getty)

Ian Llewellyn

Fri, 16 Jul 2021

The idea of a carbon border tax for imports into New Zealand is being floated by the Ministry for the Environment.A “carbon border adjustment mechanism” (CBAM) is put forward as a potential future option for dealing with the issue of local industries having to pay carbon prices when their international competitors do not.The discussion paper is focused on readjusting the industrial allocation of free NZ Units for emissions intensive, trade exposed industries (EITE). The free allocation means qualifying businesses get a percentage of...

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