‘We could tax imports from nations who pollute most’

THE UK could introduce a ‘carbon border tax’ on goods produced by countries not ‘pulling their weight’ on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Environment Secretary has signalled.

George Eustice said a ‘domestic meat tax’ had not been on the cards, but suggested in the long term a carbon border tax on imported goods such as meat might be needed.

He said the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy were looking at how such a levy might work.

Downing Street has ruled out a carbon tax that would impose higher costs on UK meat producers.

Mr Eustice was asked on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show if countries that continue with high greenhouse gas emissions would face higher taxes.

He replied: ‘We would be saying that we are taking the action necessary to deal with this global challenge, but we’re not going to allow producers in this country to be undercut by those who aren’t doing their share.

‘If you don’t want to export pollution, you have to consider something like a carbon border tax. Ideally, it would be done multilaterally, with agreement around the world.’

It comes as calls were made for companies that dump millions of tons of sewage into Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas to face a tax on profits to pay for the clean-up. The proposals could help pay to stop water firms allowing sewage to overflow into rivers after heavy rain, and provide a £340million fund each year for improvements.

The call for a ‘sewage tax’ came from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey in advance of today’s vote in Parliament on the Environment Bill.

He said: ‘Why should taxpayers be left to foot the bill for water companies who have shown utter disregard for our local environments?’

The Bill seeks to write environmental principles into UK law for the first time following Brexit.