India Expresses Concerns over EU’s Green Economy Regulations
India has expressed “deep disappointment” with the European Union’s new green economy regulations, arguing they are unfair and violate the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal voiced these concerns during a meeting with his French counterpart, Sophie Primas, on Wednesday.
Goyal emphasized the need for greater understanding regarding India’s development path and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) when implementing sustainability and social measures. CBDR acknowledges that developed nations have a greater responsibility to address climate change due to their historical emissions.
“These are issues which are still at a reporting stage, not yet been applied on any of our exports,” Goyal stated, addressing the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). “Having said that, I strongly raised this issue with my French counterpart and did express India’s deep disappointment on the unilateral regulations and many new regulations that the European Union has come out with, which are not acceptable to anybody in the world, which have been opposed by developed countries as much as by developing and less developed countries.”
The CBAM, a tariff on energy-intensive goods imported into the EU, has raised concerns in India, as it could lead to higher tariffs on exports like cement, aluminum, iron, and steel. This, according to India, would act as a unilateral trade barrier.
The EUDR, which mandates that operators or traders placing specific commodities on the EU market or exporting them prove their goods do not contribute to deforestation, is also a point of contention.
Goyal underscored the lack of financial and technological support from developed nations, stating, “We are the least polluting nation on a per capita basis, probably amongst the least polluting in the world, and therefore I did raise it very strongly, but this is an issue that will be settled with the European Union. I hope that our engagement with individual countries in Europe and India’s strong articulation of our views will resonate through them at the European Union.”
He stressed that the Paris agreement at COP21 recognized the need for a transition period for developing and less developed countries and established CBDR as the guiding principle for transitioning to a clean energy world or a net-zero world.
Goyal emphasized that these regulations are expected to be implemented in the future. He highlighted India’s desire for multilateral solutions to climate change and its commitment to achieving its climate goals while ensuring sustainable development for its people.
How might the EU’s new green regulations, according to Dr. Sharma, impact Indian exports to the EU?
Certainly, let’s craft a short interview based on the provided information.
## Interview: India’s Concerns over EU Green Regulations
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing India’s recent concerns regarding the European Union’s new green regulations. Joining me to shed light on this issue is Dr. Anita Sharma, an expert on international trade and climate policy. Dr. Sharma, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s dive right in. India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, recently expressed “deep disappointment” with these regulations. Can you explain what exactly is causing this friction?
**Dr. Sharma:** Essentially, India feels that the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) unfairly target developing nations like India, while not taking into account historical responsibility for climate change.
**Host:** You mentioned CBDR, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” Would you elaborate on how that relates to this situation?
**Dr. Sharma:** Absolutely. CBDR recognizes that developed countries, being primarily responsible for historical greenhouse gas emissions, should take the lead in combating climate change. The concern is that the EU’s new regulations, without proper consideration for CBDR, place an undue burden on developing countries that are still striving for economic development and industrialization.
**Host:** So, are these regulations going to have a direct impact on Indian exports to the EU?
**Dr. Sharma:** Minister Goyal mentioned that the regulations are currently in a reporting stage and haven’t been applied to exports yet. However, there are concerns that these regulations could lead to increased costs for Indian exporters, potentially impacting their competitiveness in the EU market [[1](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2024-0033_EN.html)].
**Host:** Dr. Sharma, thank you for providing your insights on this complex issue. It will be interesting to see howIndia navigates this challenge in the coming months.
**Dr. Sharma:** My pleasure. It’s a situation that demands careful consideration and dialog between India and the EU.
Let me know if you’d like to explore any other aspects of this topic or have further questions!
