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Europe has urged countries such as Australia to support its plan to impose carbon tariffs, arguing the move to phase out fossil fuels will reduce the income of oil-rich authoritarian states and ease geopolitical tensions.
Millions of dollars in new tariffs could be slapped on Australian exports after the European Parliament voted in March to forge ahead with carbon levies on products from countries with weak environmental laws.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the levies are needed to avoid carbon leakage.
Credit:AP
Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan has repeatedly labelled the EU proposal a new form of protectionism and instead argues tariffs should be slashed on green products including wind turbines and solar panels.