European Commission looking at measures to exempt China from EU ETS

European Commission stated it is looking at China's promise to cut emissions by 20% by 2020 as a possible equivalent measure qualifying as an exemption for Chinese airlines under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) (New York Times, 31-May-2011). Chinese authorities have been pressing for exemptions for Chinese airlines from the EU ETS and have also threatened retaliatory measures.

European Commission: "We are looking at this as a possible equivalent measure, but it's still too early to say. We are very open. The definition of equivalent measures is a very flexible concept," Isaac Valero-Ladron, Spokesman. Source: New York Times, 31-May-2011.