French government ba

thefrenchgovernmenthassignalledthatitisdroppingaplanforataxondomesticcarbondioxideemissions.

    jean-francoiscope,parliamentaryleaderofthegoverningumpparty,wasquotedassayingthetax"wouldbeeurope-wideornot(exist)atall".

    primeministerfrancoisfillontoldparliamentthatthegovernmentshouldfocusonpoliciesthatincreasedfrance'seconomiccompetitiveness.

    francehadbeenrethinkingthetaxafteracourtrejecteditlastyear.

    theconstitutionalcouncilsaidthereweretoomanyexemptionsforpollutersinthetaxplan,andthataminorityofconsumerswouldbeartheburden.

    butpresidentnicolassarkozy'sgovernmenthadstillbeenplanningtopushthrougharevisedversionofthemeasurelaterthisyear.

    germancompetition

    hadtheplanbeenapproved,francewouldhavebeenthelargestcountrytoimposeacarbontaxaspartofeffortstotackleclimatechange.

    "wehavetoamplifymeasuresthathelpreinforcethecompetitivenessofoureconomy,"mrfillonwasquotedassayingbyreutersnewsagency.

    "inthatspirit,iwouldliketoindicatethatthedecisionswearegoingtotakeregardingsustainabledevelopmenthavetobebettercoordinatedwithalleuropeancountries,soasnottowidenourgapincompetitivenesswithourneighbourgermany."

    environmentalagenciesexpresseddi**ayontuesday,whiletheheadofthefrenchbusinessfederationmedefexpressedrelief.

    theeuropeancommissionsaidearlierthismonththatitwasplanninganeu-wideminimumtaxoncarbonaspartoftheeu'sgreenenergyagenda-thoughtheukopposessuchamove.
　　

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