Several leading airliners in China said they will not pay a European Union carbon tax that went into effect at the beginning of the year, their trade representatives have said.
The China Air Transport Association, or CATA, “is strongly against the EU’s improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into” its emissions trading scheme that places a charge on flights based on their carbon emissions, spokesman Chai Haibo told the London Telegraph newspaper.
Last year, the trade group said that it would cost airliners $124 million extra in fees each year.
CATA represents Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.
“If governments like the U.S., China, and Russia can launch strong and forceful retaliatory measures, this will form enormous pressure and we hope could make the EU to change its mind,” Haibo added.
China is the first country to say that it will not cooperate with the EU’s plan. The United States, which is planning on filing a lawsuit, and Canada have also criticized the tax.
