China welcomes proposed freezing of EU carbon tax on airlines

BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday said China approves of a possible freeze for the carbon emission tax on airlines proposed by the EU Commission.

"We have noticed a relevant official's remarks and we welcome the freeze," spokesman Hong Lei said.

The commission on Monday proposed freezing the carbon emission tax on non-EU flights for a year. Flights within the EU will still be taxed for carbon emissions.

The European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) system requires all airlines flying in EU airspace to pay a tax on 15 percent of their total carbon emissions for 2012, a move that has triggered global opposition.

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