On February 8, Xiao Li, a Jinjiang native studying in Portugal, stopped in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from Hong Kong, and flew to Lisbon, Portugal to continue his class. The price of his round-trip air ticket from Hong Kong to Lisbon was RMB 7,800, which was no significant increase compared with the same period last year. However, Xiao Li knows that because the EU may impose a carbon emission tax on civil aviation companies, the same round-trip ticket may increase by 600 yuan this summer, and this summer "I may not go home." Xiao Li said.

Recently, the European Union decided to impose a carbon emission tax on flights to and from its member states. In response, relevant Chinese authorities have proposed prohibiting domestic transportation airlines from participating in the EU emissions trading system, and prohibiting transportation airlines from increasing tariffs or Increase fees. To this end, 26 countries, including China, decided to hold a meeting in Moscow on February 21 to jointly discuss countermeasures against EU carbon emissions tax.

　　 Air tickets to Europe may increase by more than 300 yuan

"If this cost is shared with every passenger going to Europe, in 2012 alone, the economy class ticket to Europe will increase by at least 300 yuan, and this cost may increase year by year." The China Air Transport Association predicts that if not To avoid the EU carbon tax, China's civil aviation industry will pay the EU a carbon tax of approximately RMB 800 million in 2012 alone. The increase in airline costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers and eventually lead to an increase in ticket prices. "Although Quanzhou Jinjiang Airport has no passenger flights to the EU, European travel accounts for a large proportion of the outbound travel market. If the EU carbon emission tax policy is implemented, it will have a significant impact on citizens' travel."

　　 A related person from the City Tourism Association stated that if a carbon emission tax is to be paid, the cost of travel for citizens will rise. According to estimates by industry insiders, citizens like Xiao Li who travel to Europe for study abroad, tourism, business and other reasons exceed 10,000 each year. If the price of each ticket rises by 300 yuan, the citizens of Quanzhou will spend an additional 6 million yuan on this every year. Xiao Li told reporters, “In case the ticket price goes up, maybe I won’t be back in the summer. Although 600 yuan is not a lot, it’s a big burden for me.”

　　 Set threshold to form trade barriers

"Once the ticket price rises, the international express delivery to the European Union will definitely increase the price." Mr. Chen, the head of a Jinjiang company that supplies slippers to Carrefour supermarkets in Spain and the UK, told reporters that he has to send to London and Madrid every quarter. Sending a large number of shoe samples, now it costs 425 yuan to send a 1 kg item to London. Once the price of express delivery increases significantly, this is also a very expensive expense for the company.

　　 Regarding the increase in express delivery costs, an electronic company in Quanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, which specializes in satellite TV receiving equipment and cable digital TV set-top boxes, has the same hidden concerns. The person in charge of the company, Mr. Huang, told reporters that the company makes prototypes according to the requirements of European customers, and expresses them to him in the past to confirm them, and then follow the orders. Many prototypes are sent to Europe every year. Once the cost of international express delivery rises, the operating cost of the company will certainly rise.

　　 In addition to the price increase of international aviation logistics, industry experts are more worried about the "distant worries" of trade barriers brought about by the rules of the carbon trading game. "The EU uses its right to speak in this field to force its rules. If it succeeds, it will have an impact on related carbon emission industries and companies. The collection of fees is only the first step for the EU, and its purpose is to develop a carbon trading game. Rules." Energy conservation expert Huang Lixing believes that once the carbon emission tax is implemented strongly, the EU is likely to set thresholds for entry products, assess carbon emissions, and set energy-saving systems to form trade barriers.

　　 Suspense pending

　　 Multi-country consultation and response

"The country has explicitly banned domestic transportation airlines from participating in the EU emissions trading system, and prohibited transportation airlines from increasing freight rates or charging items on this basis." A person in charge of an air ticketing agency on Citong Road in the urban area told reporters, although China’s attitude is clear, but the suspense of the carbon emission tax dispute has not passed.

　　 Inquiry learned that the EU has responded to relevant foreign media saying that it is still determined to include routes taking off and landing in all 27 member states into the carbon emissions trading plan. Some EU climate officials said that they "will not back down."

　　 Observers revealed that the problem is still in a stalemate. 26 countries including China, the United States, and Russia will hold a meeting in Moscow on February 21 to jointly discuss countermeasures to the EU's aviation carbon emissions trading system. The result is still unknown.

volume_up content_copy share

Share: