Tag: tarriffs

Australia's Shame

Global tariffs the only way to end Australia’s climate criminality

Australia, with its “gas-led recovery”, corrupted political process and continuing reliance on fossil fuels for exports and energy, is moving from climate laggard to climate criminal as we head for another record warm year — possibly the warmest ever. Global sanctions in the form of tariffs on every Australian export — not just the limited range of energy-intensive products identified by the EU — to make up for our lack of action is economically justified and morally compelling.

Global tariffs the only way to end Australia’s climate criminality
China, Coal

Government still seeks Free Trade Agreement with China despite Beijing’s plans to reintroduce coal import tariffs

Mining trucks go about their work in the coal mine at Collie in Western Australia, December 2009.

The Trade Minister Andrew Robb says he hopes Beijing’s decision to put tariffs on coal imports will not delay the Government’s planned free trade deal with China.

China’s Ministry of Finance said in a statement that import tariffs for anthracite coal and coking coal will return to 3 per cent, while non-coking coal will have an import tax of 6 per cent.

Mr Robb said he could not predict whether it will see Australian mining operations close or jobs lost.It is not clear if exporters in Indonesia, the second-biggest shipper of the fuel to China, will be subject to the tariffs since they have a free trade agreement.

The China National Coal Association, which had submitted proposals to reduce domestic output, reduce tax burden and regulate imports, had urged Beijing to act swiftly to support the besieged sector, where 70 per cent of the miners were making losses and more than half were owing wages.