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Green subsidies and the WTO

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  • Charnovitz, Steve

Abstract

This paper provides a detailed explanation how the law of the World Trade Organization regulates environmental subsidies with a focus on renewable energy subsidies. The paper begins by discussing the economic justifications for such subsidies and the criticisms of them and then gives examples of categories of subsidies. The paper provides an overview of the relevant World Trade Organization rules and case law, including the recent Canada-Renewable Energy case. The paper also makes specific recommendations for how World Trade Organization law can be improved and discusses the literature on reform proposals. The study finds that because of a lack of clarity in World Trade Organizaion rules, for some clean energy subsidies, a government will not know in advance whether the subsidy is World Trade Organization-legal.

Suggested Citation

  • Charnovitz, Steve, 2014. "Green subsidies and the WTO," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7060, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7060
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Matsushita, Mitsuo & Schoenbaum, Thomas J. & Mavroidis, Petros C., 2006. "The World Trade Organization: Law, Practice, and Policy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 2, number 9780199208005.
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    8. Annamaria La Chimia & Sue Arrowsmith, 2009. "Addressing Tied Aid: Towards a More Development-Oriented WTO?," Journal of International Economic Law, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 707-747, September.
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    14. World Bank, 2012. "Inclusive Green Growth : The Pathway to Sustainable Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6058.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fischer, Carolyn & Greaker, Mads & Rosendahl, Knut Einar, 2017. "Robust technology policy against emission leakage: The case of upstream subsidies," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 44-61.
    2. Vilija Aleknevičien&# & Asta Bendoraityt&#, 2023. "Role of Green Finance in Greening the Economy: Conceptual Approach," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2023(2), pages 105-130.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental Economics&Policies; Economic Theory&Research; Taxation&Subsidies; Emerging Markets; Trade Law;
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