The Europeans did not flinch when confronted by threats of a trade war from a Canadian cabinet minister. Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, Joe Oliver, said Wednesday Ottawa would consider launching a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the EU proceeds with a fuel-quality directive that singles out crude from Canada’s oil sands as harmful to the planet’s climate.
If the trade referee were to side with the Canadian federal government he could grant Ottawa the authority to retaliate by slapping punitive tariffs on European imports.
However the Europeans do not think that Canada’s case will sway the WTO. The European Union ambassador to Canada, Matthias Brinkmann, told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday that he believes the WTO would find no fault with the fuel-quality directive.
Mr. Oliver later said in a phone interview. “We’re going to defend our interests.” Although he did not specify whose interests he is defending.
The science on the dirty emissions profile of extracting and refining the tar sands is widely understood. It is hard to imagine how the WTO could ignore the veracity of the European claim. The ruling Canadian Conservatives appear to be fighting a losing battle to get the EU to back down.
© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Articles
Canadian Implications of President Obama`s Climate Action Plan
The Fate of the Keystone XL in the Wake of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
Canadian Environment Minister: “Fossil Awards are Worn with Honour”
Happy Canada Day?: Melting Arctic Ice and Flooding
Leading Canadian Economist to Tell Europeans about the Climate Impacts of the Tar Sands
Climate Scientists’ Urge Canadian Minister to Back-off Expanded Fossil Fuel Production
Canada at Odds with US and China on Climate Change
Report Urges Canada’s Federal Conservatives to Regulate Oil and Gas Sector to Meet GHG Targets
Canadian Conservative Minister Attacks Climate Scientist
Canada has the Dirtiest Oil on Earth (Video)
