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China wants talks on trade steps at COP29 environment summit, document shows

China has asked for that nations hold talks at next week's COP29 U.N. environment summit on carbon border taxes and other limiting trade procedures that Beijing says are injuring developing nations, according to a. file seen .

The demand raises the prospect that installing trade tensions. between major economies could interrupt this year's United Nations. environment talks, which begin on Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

China, on behalf of the fundamental country group which likewise. consists of Brazil, India and South Africa, has submitted a. proposal to the U.N. environment body (UNFCCC) to add talks on. concerns with climate-change related unilateral restrictive. trade measures to the COP29 program, the document showed.

The BASIC countries have actually been stern critics of the EU's. trade-related climate policies, including its anti-deforestation. law and its carbon border levy, which will enforce costs on. imports of high-carbon items.

China and India have criticised the carbon border levy as. protectionist, and said it unfairly punishes establishing. nations.

The EU says it is needed to stop European markets - which. pay a cost on their CO2 emissions - from being damaged by low-cost. imports from nations with weaker environment policies.

A UNFCCC representative confirmed it had gotten the BASIC. countries' submission.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a. request for remark.

Unless the standard countries withdraw their proposition, it will. be put to countries at the beginning of COP29, when they must. embrace - by agreement - the conference agenda.

Any disagreements over the COP29 agenda might postpone the start of. settlements and cut into the time left for nations to strike. deals - including their primary task, to authorize potentially. numerous billions of dollars in brand-new funding to address. environment change.

What gets on to the program for a U.N. climate summit can. have huge effects.

An agreement to include a much-disputed program product on financial. payments for climate-caused damage at the 2022 U.N. climate. summit, resulted in the summit producing the world's first fund to. offer this money.

The European Union is most likely to oppose the BASIC proposition,. diplomats said. The EU has formerly stated trade problems should. be talked about at the World Trade Organisation, rather than in. U.N. environment talks.

A European Commission representative did not react to a. ask for comment.

The fundamental nations' submission said COP29 needs to hold talks. on developing nations' concerns about climate policies. presented by developed nations, which affect trade.

It said nations should collectively oppose any measures. to limit trade and investment and establishing new green trade. barriers, such as unilateral carbon border adjustment steps. and due diligence requirements.

(source: Reuters)