Local exporters may soon be affected by a new law being finalized in the United States congress that would result in the imposition of carbon taxes on industrial products from developing countries. The American Clean Energy Act of 2009 is projected to adversely impact on the local chemicals, cement and copper exports to the US.

Philexport president Sergio Ortiz-Luiz, Jr. has received a letter from Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, policy and planning director of the Department of Trade and Industry on the new law.

Dichosa said that the new law mainly intends to give liberal incentives to industries that use renewable industries and new investments in clean fuels, while slapping new taxes to users of fossil fuel led by oil and coal.
This is apparently a response of the US government to help avert climate change.

The bill has been approved by the US House of Representatives but will still have to pass the Senate.

The least developed and developing nations that have minimal contribution to carbon emissions to the atmosphere are exempted from the planned import tax.