PRESENTATION
CBAM in Africa: A challenge and an opportunity - Seutame Maimele, TIPS Economist: Sustainable Growth
RESEARCH
TIPS Policy Brief: The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and implications for South African exports - by Lerato Monaisa and Seutame Maimele
MEDIA
Media article: SA's low carbon taxes will send money to EU coffers - Denene Erasmus, Business Day 27 July 2023
Background
The Development Dialogue provides a chance to explore the latest evidence in Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from the global south. CBAM is a carbon border tax on embedded GHGs of carbon-intensive products imported into the European Union (EU). In 2019, the (EU) introduced the Fit for 55 policy package. The policy package aims to reduce the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Included in the policy package is the CBAM.
As of the 16th of May 2023, the regulation on CBAM was finally published in the official journal of the European Union, after it was finally adopted as law on the 10th of May 2023. The adoption of CBAM and CBAM like measures will have an impact on the global south countries. These measures will not only disrupt global trade flows, but they will also divert climate change responsibilities to the global south, and impact welfare of these economies.
This dialogue will focus on issues that arise from the introduction of these green trade (climate change) policies, specifically looking into CBAM, and how global south countries (including BRICS) can respond to these issues.
About the Speakers
Moderator
Gaylor Montmasson-Clair is a Senior Economist at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). He leads TIPS's work on sustainability and just transition. He is the Facilitator for the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), the industrialisation plan for South Africa’s renewable energy value chain.
Presenters
Seutame Maimele is a Sustainable Growth Economist and a Research lead on Climate Change and Trade at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS).
Max Gruenig is a Senior Policy Advisor at the E3G Washington Office, focusing on US-EU climate diplomacy in a global context.
Panellists
Prof. David Luke is a professor in practice and strategic director at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa. Specialising in African trade policy and trade negotiations.
Kekeletso Mashigo is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa. She is currently Counsellor Economic and Legal at the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, representing South Africa in various WTO Committees. Prior to that she was Head of Legal in the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) Trade Policy Division, responsible for legal opinions and disputes on international trade and investment issues. She has occupied various roles and was also previously Director: Multilateral Organisations at the dtic; seconded by the dtic as an Investment Expert to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Investment Division; responsible for SA-EU Trade relations; and has also worked at South Africa’s National Treasury in the Legal Tax Design Unit focused on international and business tax policy.
For enquiries please contact Natasha@tips.org.za
TIPS Dialogues bring together academics, policymakers, civil society organisations, workers, and practitioners to
discuss important issues and share ideas on industrial policy.
TIPS is partnering with the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic).