Oh, Thank God! The WTO Has A Climate Solution - Removing Trade Barriers!!

[hatrack]

Removing trade barriers around the world would help to tackle the climate crisis, enable a “just transition” away from fossil fuels and make developing countries more resilient to the impacts of global heating, the head of the World Trade Organization has said. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who took over as director general of the global watchdog last March, said: “Trade is part of the solution, not part of the problem … We need a global effort to climate-proof the supply chains and infrastructure of the most vulnerable economies or risk undoing hard-won economic progress and development.”

She told the Guardian trade would be essential to helping developing countries cope with the effects of extreme weather, which are already being felt. “We need to put in place trade policies to cushion against the negative impacts of climate change, to ensure food security in the face of climate threats [and] provide access to adaptation technologies,” she said.

EDIT

Environmental rules could be compatible with trade, she said: “The WTO rules do not preclude people from putting in environmental standards [but] if you’re designing your environmental policies you have to do it in such a way that it’s transparent, and you are not discriminating against like products.” The WTO last week embarked on an initiative to incorporate environmental concerns into trade, with roadmaps for the reform of fossil fuel subsidies, encouraging sustainability in international trade, and controlling plastic pollution.

Ed. - Emphasis added. Oh, and it's the end of 2021, and they "embarked on an initiative" last fucking week?

Okonjo-Iweala believes that, in the wake of the Cop26 summit, trade will become a vital tool in achieving the drastic cuts necessary in greenhouse gas emissions, helping to shift the global economy to a low-carbon footing. She said: “What is clear is that climate negotiations have shifted from technical discussions to actual implementation … This makes the role of trade and trade policy even more urgent in ensuring a just and effective green transition for all.”

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/24/end-trade-barriers-help-tackle-climate-crisis-wto-ngozi-okonjo-iweala

[Demsrule86]

1. No just no .

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I agree with her

I'm Senior leadership at a USA Manufacturer of Hyperscale Racks and Servers. My focus is Global Trade Compliance, Hazmat Transport and GLOBAL e-waste compliance.

The Central Pollution Control Board in India has an Extended Producer Responsibility Program which we are recognized as a "leader" in Compliance.

I would like to see that in the USA. Seriously.

We pay in India for the collection of our Imports that pass through their customs - by an exchange. We started with projected sales and have moved to declared exports. This has enabled India to put a stop to waste electronics being sent there for breakdown, recovery of minerals, and then plastics being burned in alleys.

I'm probably being a bit wonky about this but I'm passionate about it.

Why can't WE in the USA do this? Several times a year my county taxes are used for collecting e-waste. We should be charging Foxconn (Apple and a host of other cheap electronics designed for a year or two's use), Samsung, LG - and any "US Based" manufacturer who assembles/constructs abroad (GE, Whirlpool, etc etc.) and distributing that money collected by CBP at the behest of the EPA to communities for safe collection, breakdown, and recycling of parts and components of these goods.

Better yet - the 301 (China Tariffs) collected from my employer alone for raw materials NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA, that we need to build our elegant Made in the USA exports will top out at over $100 million dollars from September 24, 2018 through December 31, 2021 - vs $2 Million the prior 3 years a Made in the USA Manufacturer paid . . .

Could be used to implement the program.

Don't tell me the USA is broke. Ask a US Manufacturer (TRUE USA MANUFACTURER). Billions of dollars are there . . . if the Trump Admin didn't steal it.