Impacts of U.S. Carbon Tariffs on China’s Foreign Trade and Social Welfare

Wenwen Zhang, Shichun Xu, Zhengxia He, Basil Sharp, Bin Zhao and Shuxiao Wang
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Wenwen Zhang: Energy Center, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Shichun Xu: Management School, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Zhengxia He: Business School, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China
Basil Sharp: Energy Center, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Bin Zhao: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Shuxiao Wang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 19, 1-21

Abstract: A recursive multisector dynamic computable general equilibrium (DCGE) model simulates the economic impacts of carbon tariffs, as proposed by the USA, ranging from $40/t to $60/t CO 2 . We examine a carbon tax and export subsidy as response policies to the U.S. carbon tariff, respectively. The dynamic model shows the possible impacts of these policies on China’s economic structure, carbon emissions, and social welfare from 2020 to 2030. Simulations show that a carbon tariff changes the structure of China’s exports and promotes trade diversion from the USA to other countries and regions. A domestic carbon tax and subsidy policy can dampen the adverse impacts of carbon tariffs on trade. A carbon tax shows an effective impact on increasing clean energy use, decreasing the carbon intensity of output, and reducing carbon emissions. A subsidy on exports to the USA reduces the adverse impact of a carbon tariff on China’s social welfare in the short term.

Keywords: carbon tariffs; response policy; carbon emissions; trade; energy structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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