China launches measures to promote development of green electricity certificate market

China on Tuesday rolled out 17 measures to promote the high-quality development of its renewable energy green electricity certificate (GEC) market, aiming at addressing the key problems of the country's clean energy industry.

The measures were announced in a document jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration (NEA), and other competent departments.

They target issues such as insufficient demand in the GEC market and the underestimated environmental value of green electricity.

The measures will also help build a GEC consumption mechanism that combines both compulsory and voluntary consumption, according to the document.

GECs are the sole proof of the environmental attributes of renewable energy power in China and serve as the only certificate for verifying renewable energy production and consumption.

China will steadily promote GEC compulsory consumption in accordance with the law, and gradually raise the consumption ratio of green electricity and verify it with GEC, said the released document. "In principle, by 2030 the green electricity consumption ratio should not be lower than the average level of national total renewable energy electricity consumption responsibility weight. In particular, the green electricity consumption ratios at the newly constructed data centers in national hub nodes should be further enhanced beyond the level of 80 percent. Meanwhile, efforts will be made to construct a batch of green factories and industrial parks that have high green electricity consumption ratios. Green electricity consumption data will also be incorporated into the ESG (environmental, social and governance) reports of listed companies," said Pan Huimin, deputy director of NEA's New Energy Department.

The document also said green electricity consumption ratio will be required on enterprises and data centers in steel, building materials, and chemical industries, as well as other key energy-consuming industries and institutions.

"This year, we plan to raise green electricity consumption ratio requirement on more industries and also require them to use GEC in accounting electricity consumption. Requirements will be implemented to achieve comprehensive transition from controlling the total amount and intensity of energy consumption to controlling the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions. On the basis of using GEC to conduct the calculation of this year's energy efficiency evaluation and assessment, we will also study how to include GEC into the evaluation of controlling the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions," said Li Chuangjun, director of NEA's New Energy Department.

China launches measures to promote development of green electricity certificate market

U.S. consumers will see higher prices and slower deliveries after Friday's expiration of a duty-free treatment for Chinese imports under 800 U.S. dollars, known as the de minimis threshold.

According to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on April 2, starting from Friday (May 2), imported goods from China entering the U.S. through means outside the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 U.S. dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, will be subject to all applicable duties, which should be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.

The order also leaves all relevant postal items containing goods from China sent through the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or 25 dollars per item (increasing to 50 dollars per item after June 1). It adds that this is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior orders.

It's estimated that the U.S. receives nearly four million low-value packages every day, most of which come from China. According to a report from the Congressional Research Services of the United States, low-value packages from China have skyrocketed from 5.3 billion dollars in 2018 to 66 billion dollars in 2023.

In response, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has stated that the U.S. adjustment on its tariff policy on low-value imports is destructive and will seriously affect the interests of American consumers.

The ministry said that any adjustment to cross-border e-commerce should aim to bring more convenience to consumers.

The de minimis provision, which was introduced in 1938 for shipments of five U.S. dollars or less, allows low-value parcels to enter the U.S. tax free. In 2016, that threshold was increased to 800 dollars.

The policy was intended to reduce the administrative burden for U.S. customs, speed up e-commerce flow for both retailers and consumers, and encourage cross-border trade by lowering barriers for cheaper items.

U.S. consumers to feel pinch as duty-free treatment for cheap parcels from China ends