United States raises concerns over EU carbon costs for international flights

Washington, United States. The United States said it is deeply concerned about European Union plans to impose carbon costs on some international flights, despite a proposed threshold that would exclude direct flights between Europe and the United States.

EU proposal

The European Commission published proposals on Friday to apply emissions costs to international flights departing Europe and landing in countries up to 5,000 kilometres away, measured from a specific point in central Europe.

The threshold would exclude direct flights from Europe to the United States. Some EU officials said the limit was intended to avoid raising tensions with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. response

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation told Reuters on Monday that the United States remained concerned about any expansion of the EU’s Emission Trading System.

“We are analyzing the European Commission’s proposal and will take appropriate steps as needed to protect American consumers and businesses,” the spokesperson said.

Previous dispute

Washington blocked an earlier EU attempt to expand its Emission Trading System to cover international flights in 2012.