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Border Carbon Adjustments: Rationale, Design and Impact

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  • Mr. Michael Keen
  • Ian W.H. Parry
  • Mr. James Roaf

Abstract

This paper assesses the rationale, design, and impacts of border carbon adjustments (BCAs). Large disparities in carbon pricing between countries raise concerns about competitiveness and emissions leakage. BCAs are potentially the most effective domestic instrument for addressing these challenges—but design details are critical. For example, limiting coverage of the BCA to energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries facilitates administration, and initially benchmarking BCAs on domestic emissions intensities would ease the transition for trading partners with emission-intensive production. It is also important to consider how to apply BCAs across countries with different approaches to emissions mitigation. BCAs alone do not solve the free-rider problem in carbon pricing, but might be a step to an effective international carbon price floor.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Michael Keen & Ian W.H. Parry & Mr. James Roaf, 2021. "Border Carbon Adjustments: Rationale, Design and Impact," IMF Working Papers 2021/239, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2021/239
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    Cited by:

    1. Stuart Adam & Isaac Delestre & Peter Levell & Helen Miller, 2022. "Tax policies to reduce carbon emissions," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(3), pages 235-263, September.
    2. Robert B. Koopman & Mary Lisa Madell, 2023. "A fairer and more resilient multilateral trading system will require a reinvigorated WTO," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(S2), pages 35-39, March.
    3. Xinxin Liao & Zhuo Ning, 2022. "Welfare Implications of Border Carbon Adjustments on the Trade of Harvested Wood Products," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.

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