The US Senate has passed a bill to stop US carriers paying for carbon emissions on European flights. It is understood the government wants Europe to back away from applying its emissions law to foreign carriers.
The European Commission's law is effective from this year, with payments levied as of 2013.
Senator John Thune, a sponsor of the measure, said it sent a "strong message" to the EU that it cannot impose taxes on the United States.
The US House of Representatives has already passed a similar measure.
To date, most airlines and countries globally have reluctantly complied with the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS tax) rules, with the notable exception of Chinese and Indian carriers.
China also threatened retaliation - including impounding European aircraft - if the EU fined Chinese airlines for non-ETS compliance.
China also froze Airbus purchase deals - by Chinese carriers - worth up to US$14 billion, though it later signed an agreement with Germany for 50 Airbus planes worth over US$4 billion.
The Senate bill allows for the prohibition to be reconsidered if the EU trading scheme is amended, an international alternative (by the UN International Civil Aviation Organization) - is agreed or the United States implements its own program to address aviation emissions.
The US Senate has passed a bill to stop US carriers paying for carbon emissions on European flights. It is understood the government wants Europe to back away from applying its emissions law to foreign carriers.
The European Commission's law is effective from this year, with payments levied as of 2013.
Senator John Thune, a sponsor of the measure, said it sent a "strong message" to the EU that it cannot impose taxes on the United States.
The US House of Representatives has already passed a similar measure.
To date, most airlines and countries globally have reluctantly complied with the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS tax) rules, with the notable exception of Chinese and Indian carriers.
China also threatened retaliation - including impounding European aircraft - if the EU fined Chinese airlines for non-ETS compliance.
China also froze Airbus purchase deals - by Chinese carriers - worth up to US$14 billion, though it later signed an agreement with Germany for 50 Airbus planes worth over US$4 billion.
The Senate bill allows for the prohibition to be reconsidered if the EU trading scheme is amended, an international alternative (by the UN International Civil Aviation Organization) - is agreed or the United States implements its own program to address aviation emissions.
