In June 2009, when the subprime debt in the United States turned into a crisis and the global climate and environment continued to deteriorate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "American Clean Energy and Security Act". The act proposed to impose carbon tariffs on exports from countries that were not energy efficient and used high levels of carbon. This act caused heated debate and controversy around the world. France, Canada and other developed countries strongly supported the introduction of carbon tariff reforms, while China, India and other developing countries were strongly against carbon tariffs.
The carbon tariff is considered to protect many aspects of green trade. Developed countries would use the carbon tariff to protect related domestic industries in the short term and to stimulate domestic economic recovery. However, imposing carbon tariffs in developing countries would bring unbearable pressure to the economy and industrial development because of financial, technical, and other constraints. The developing countries are now on the path of industrialization but industrial products are still their major exports. Of course, it is undeniable that, in the long run, carbon tariffs will protect the global climate and environment and promote the upgrading of the industrial structure in developing countries.
This article is intended to analyze the reasons for imposing carbon tariffs by the United States and its impact on the China-U.S. trade; what strategies and measures China should implement on the Sino-US trade will also be analyzed. For the benefit of the healthy development of the Sino-U.S. trade, China should adopt a positive attitude to develop a low-carbon economy and take responsibility to curb global climate change.