(Montel) The government has so far not decided whether Norway should introduce the EU’s proposed carbon tariff, CBAM, but Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) is in favor.
– I think everything indicates, almost beyond any doubt, that it will pay off for Norway to be on the inside, said Eide in a meeting of the Storting’s Europe Committee, writes Dagens Næringsliv.
He also said that Norwegian industry and the trade union movement would see it as a “disaster” if Norway did not have the same barrier as other European countries.
CBAM is intended to protect European industry from foreign goods that are not exposed to CO2 costs such as the European quota system.
This is to prevent European industry from flying out of the EU. The scheme is planned to be fully operational in 2026.
If Norway is left out, we could become a “dumping area” for goods that will no longer come to Europe as a result of the customs, said Eide.
Vedum is silent
Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) and his ministry are handling the case for the government.
DN has asked Vedum whether Eide’s views are representative of the government, but the newspaper has not received an answer.
State Secretary Erlend Grimstad (Sp) says Norway is in dialogue with the EU about CBAM, but will not reveal how far these have come.
