Border tax adjustment: a feasible way to support stringent emission trading

CO₂ emission allowances help to internalise effects of fossil fuel consumption on global climate and sea levels. However, consumption, production and investment decisions do not reach the optimal allocation when the scheme is only implemented in some countries. Production with inefficient facilities in non-participating countries may even increase. Border tax adjustment (BTA) for costs incurred from procuring CO₂ emission allowances reduces the leakage. We show that BTA can be both feasible and compatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) constraints. Practicable implementability requires a focus on CO₂ emissions from certain processed materials and a separate treatment of electric energy input.      

Towards a new paradigm of the right to self-determination in the world trading system

There has been a shifting meaning of the right to self-determination, since World War Ⅱ, from territorial decolonisation into other meanings such as the right for indigenous people, minorities, ethnics groups and women＇s rights in the territories of independent states. Furthermore, the new phenomenon signifies that it is also used implicitly in the world trading system by states in maintaining their sovereignty from trade liberalization. This has been a dilemma in understanding the right to self-determination within international law. This paper, however, critically evaluates the potential applicability of the right to self-determination in the world trading architecture. It begins by examining the origins, evolution and current struggle to the right to self-determination in the world trading system. It then addresses in General Exceptions, Safeguard Measures and Special and Preferential Treatment as existing and applied principles in the World Trade Organization. It is highlighted that the real world still needs the right to self-determination as a means of struggling for economic justice. The right to self-determination has shifted from the right to transfer territory politically into the right to the transfer of welfare economically and in particular, the right to self-determination of people into the fight to self-determination of states.     

反内幕交易法的公平性基础——从内幕交易“无损害”假说谈起

内幕交易是否违反法律的公平 ,多有争议。内幕交易“无损害”是反对以法律方式禁止内幕交易的逻辑起点。本文在介绍无损害性假说并对之提出针对性的批判之后 ,循着“以人为中心的公平”的论证体系 ,对内幕交易的不公平性作了分析 ,为反内幕交易法的公平性基础提供了新的理论构架。     

The impact of plurilateral trade agreements on developing countries – to participate or not to participate?

In the wake of the impasse in the Doha Development Round of multilateral trade talks, sector-specific plurilateral trade agreements (PTAs) have been gaining traction. However, PTAs mostly appeal to developed countries, with the uptake among developing countries (including least-developed countries) being very limited. This article investigates the factors contributing to such a phenomenon, whether there is indeed merit in developing countries playing a more active role in PTAs and how they might be encouraged to do so. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted with specific attention being given to the effects, on a selection of developing countries, of participation in four PTAs: the Trade in Services Agreement, the Government Procurement Agreement, the Environmental Goods Agreement and the Information Technology Agreement II. Among the findings was that although, according to the qualitative analysis, policymakers are generally disinterested in the four PTAs because they are not aligned to the countries’ economic interests or they threaten policy space, the quantitative analysis revealed that gains could often be made from more active participation in these agreements. This clearly points to a research gap and highlights the need for more in-depth analysis of the potential of PTAs in the developing world.     

我国排污收费制度存在的问题及对策

排污收费制度是我国环境法律制度中的一项基本制度,对污染的治理和环境的改善起到了重要的作用。但是,我国现行的排污收费制度无论在立法上还是在实践中都存在着一些问题,导致排污费征收情况不容乐观。因此,我们必须要不断完善排污收费制度,将经济建设和环境保护协调统一起来,在发展经济的同时更要注重污染治理。     

排污权交易制度在中国建构浅探

排污权交易是一种利用市场手段有效解决环境问题和节约环保资金的良性制度设计。当前环境问题严峻、资金紧张的中国急需该制度的合理构建。本文从排污权交易制度的价值入手,分析了排污权交易制度在我国试行存在的问题,指出我国建构排污权交易制度应特别注意的事项。     

对发展经济与减少排放问题的理性思考

在发展经济与减少排放问题上,目前有两种错误的倾向,一种是只顾经济增长,不顾环境保护;另一种是只强调生态环境,而忽视经济发展。在这一问题上唯一正确的观点是坚持辩证思维,全面贯彻落实科学发展观,强调发展要以人为本,一切发展都要符合人民的根本利益,同时要统筹人与自然和谐发展,正确处理好经济建设与资源利用、生态环境保护的关系,把"资源节约型和环境友好型"社会作为我国现代化建设的重要目标。     

当前国际航海减排谈判的焦点和难点

2011年7月,国际海事组织表决通过了《73／78防污公约》附则六修正案,为部分新造船舶制定了新的能效技术标准。该修正案是国际层面制定的第一项同时适用于发达国家和发展中国家的强制性行业减排国际法律文件,没有遵循“共同但有区别的责任”原则,必将对气候变化国际谈判走向及各国造船和航运业产生重要影响。中国作为发展中国家的海运大国,在减限排问题上将面临更大压力,对相关谈判进程中的焦点和难点问题,必须进一步加强研究,妥为应对。     

中国碳交易市场的核心问题与解决思路

中国碳交易市场已初步形成,但存在的核心问题也比较明显,主要集中在碳交易市场机制不完善、法规法律不健全、政府主管部门监管不足、缺乏碳交易的定价权与碳金融发展滞后等方面,该文围绕上述核心问题分别提出了应对思路。     

排污权交易的公示制度研究——兼谈物权公示制度

排污权交易制度的实质是具有排放资格的单位之间就排放容量进行自由交易的制度。基于排污权交易的特殊性。则需借鉴物权理论的公示制度,构建由“公法主导”转向“公私监管”的公示制度。物权的公信力来源于公示方式的科学性和合理性。现今因为环境污染的日益严重性。排污权交易制度也需被赋予公信力。物权变动的公示和公信力涉及物权的多样性和交易的安全性。即使排污权交易不存在上述问题,但就其交易对象的数量限定性和第三人的环境利益相关性．引入物权公示制度的同时也需要增强公信力。因此本文认为,应将政府采取的“批准”方式与公示生效主义相结合来构建新型的排污权交易公示制度。这一制度的建立,既能增加交易的自由度,也能增加这一方式的公信力．