Posted on 02/01/2007 11:10:24 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
PARIS (AP) - The United States could face possible European carbon taxes on its exports if it does not sign global climate accords, French President Jacques Chirac was quoted as saying in an interview published Thursday.
"A carbon tax is inevitable," Chirac reportedly said in the interview with the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times and French weekly Nouvel Observateur.
Chirac urged the United States to sign the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which calls for steep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions believed to worsen global warming, the publications said.
France has pushed in the past for a carbon tax on industrial goods from countries that refuse to sign the Kyoto accord, meant mainly to target the United States and China. Some lawyers say it would violate international trade rules.
"If (the tax) is European, and I believe it will be European, then it will all the same have a certain influence because it means that all the countries that do not accept the minimum obligations will be obliged to pay," Chirac was quoted as saying.
The Kyoto Protocol, the U.N. treaty on climate change, requires 35 industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. The U.S. and Australia are the only major industrial nations to reject the treaty. Kyoto parties are discussing what kind of timetables and quotas should follow that pact's expiration in 2012.
Chirac spoke before a two-day conference on the environment in Paris aimed at getting support for his idea for a new world environmental body. Chirac's officials said Thursday that the U.S., Russia, China and India remained opposed to the idea.
>>>Most of the worlds population have rejected this scam. I guess China and India don't count?>>>
You're right, their carbon output doesn't matter either.
I posted a comment on the Telegraph article regarding the hedgehog that couldn't take a winter nap and the Scottish woman in disbelief that an American didn't acknowledge how much they were destroying the world (an American didn't believe that Global warming was man-made). I made the comment and asked if this woman felt that China was just as evil since they put out more carbon emmissions than the US, per capita. Of course after 4 hours, the Telegraph has neglected to post my comment.
The signature block says it all.
Il n'y a pas d'honte être français. Il y a seulement l'honte dans rester de français.
(There is no shame in being French. There is only shame in staying French.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Uh...there's just one little fact that the msm Leftist left out. NONE of the signatories to the Kyoto Accords have reduced their carbon emissions. The eeeevil USA, which did not sign it during BILL CLINTON'S presidency (and Hellery should be reminded of that fact constantly), has reduced its emissions by 14%. Be careful what you wish for, Jacques. We could put that carbon tax on all the stuff the European hypocrits ship over here, and double it on the French.
Can we eye a boycott on French goods?
No more Renault or Citroen imports!
Let's just cut off all trade with France. Done.
Sounds like Jacques just qualified France for the highest import bracket of our Arrogance Tax.
How about a "WEASEL TAX" as in every imbecilic socialist wanker (ISW) like Chirac must now pay a weasel tax. These ISWs consume far too much souffle, wine, brie, cognac, etc. relative to their complete lack of contributions to human progress. Let all the ISWs be taxed down to the point of poverty, and use the money for the US military. :^)
Or Citroens, the ultimate in French weirdness.
I propose an American Hero tax on France. It will be a yearly payment of $50 million per American Serviceman's grave inside France.
I read in the WSJ, a few weeks ago, that Europe was falling in love with SUVs, themselves. The family of the head of the European Union rides around in VW Toureg, that is advertised as being powerful enough to pull a 747.
Pssst. It's about the Money. Pass it on...
The purpose of this proposed tax is clear. French industries are having a tough time trying to meet Kyoto's required goals, and doing so is costing them a pretty penny. This drives up the cost of their goods for export, which makes them less competitive than their American counterparts.
The French aren't all that bright as a country. They have a tendency to refuse to admit that they made a mistake with Kyoto, and to compound the error, they want to patch their economy with a tariff against their primary competition. However, the solution is simple - repeal Kyoto and immediately French goods will become more marketable and competitive.
But the French aren't likely to ever admit that George W. Bush was right, or that the Americans in this case had a lot more common sense.
(The Kyoto treaty was designed specifically to diminish the United States. When the U.S. pulled out after GWB was inaugurated, the treaty became an embarrassment and punishing mistake for those who remained in the treaty. Just ask Canada if one doubts.)
Chirac shouldn't threaten to start a war that France certainly couldn't finish.
Now that you mentioned it, I remember a dispute about a dam in Australia too. It did have to do with the Clean Water Act.
Ugliest car ever made - the Citroen 2CV! And a top speed of about 60 mph....
We should take up strong consideration of the French wine operation. During the fermentation process, the conversion of sugar to alcohol yields large quantities of carbon dioxide. The wine industry must be forced to contain the co2.
Tax the wines and cheeses too..
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