"BRUSSELS - European Union countries on Tuesday backed the bloc's plan to impose a world-first carbon dioxide emissions tariff on imports of polluting goods, although the finer details will need to be worked out in upcoming negotiations.
The EU wants to introduce CO2 emissions costs on imports of steel, cement, fertilisers, aluminium and electricity, a move aimed at protecting European industry from being undercut by cheaper goods made in countries with weaker environmental rules.
The costs would not kick in until 2026, according to the European Commission's proposal for the measure, but a three-year transition phase would begin in 2023 - so EU countries and the European parliament are racing to negotiate and approve the final rules in time.
Finance ministers from EU countries on Tuesday agreed their negotiating position for the upcoming talks."
Kate Abnett reports for Thomson Reuters Foundation March 15, 2022.
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