Excellent idea.  Do you mind if I forward it on to the Green Party 
economics, climate and globalisation lists?

Chris Keene
Independent Climate Policy Analyst
33 Dell Crescent
Norwich NR5 8QB

01603 614535
07801 250982

Oliver Tickell wrote:

> 
>One thing the EU could do which it permissible under WTO rules would be to
>assess imports for 'carbon duty' based on the emissions associated with best
>practicable technology for each product. This would then put energy
>intensive EU producers of steel, cement etc on a level(ish) footing with
>non-EU producers.
>
>Oliver Tickell, K2.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion list for the Crisis Forum
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of CHRIS KEENE
>Sent: 14 September 2008 01:32
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Britain's worst polluters set for windfall of millions
>
>I think the main weapon the lobbyists use is the threat to re-locate outside
>of the EU if not given free allowances. I was at a meeting organised by the
>TUC on climate change a few months ago and a lobbyist from the glass
>industry was there making this point (of course it was couched in terms of
>'we wouldn't be able to compete with the rest of the world, so we would have
>to relocate to survive').
>
> This 'race to the bottom' produced by globalisation is what Colin Hines and
>others have been warning about for years.  His solution is 'site here to
>sell here' ie if the companies don't locate a significant proportion of
>their activities in the EU they would not be allowed to market their
>products here. That should provide sufficient disincentive to relocation.
>
>
>How much chance have we got of persuading our governments to enforce this?
>Is it really necessary?
>
>Chris
>
>Daniele Conversi wrote:
>
>  
>
>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/12/emissionstrading/pri
>>nt
>>
>>with a clear explanation by Oliver Tickell: 
>>
>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/12/carbonemissions.cl
>>imatechange
>>
>>dc
>>    
>>
>
>  
>