World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

US seeks to end China’s developing country status

USA: The USA is to seek the removal of China from the list of Article 5 developing nations under the Kigali Amendment.

In a vote, prior to the US Senate’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment, the senate voted 96-0 in support of an amendment by Republican senators Mike Lee and Dan Sullivan declaring that China is not a developing country and should not be treated by the UN or other intergovernmental organisations as such.

Under its current designation as an Article 5 “developing” country, China is grouped with countries such as Brazil and all of Africa and is on a slower phase down. In addition, it has access to financial support provided under the Montreal Protocol’s multi lateral fund.

The US claims that treating China as a developing country under the treaty gives it an unfair advantage in the existing HFC market. Further, it allows China to continue production and undercut the HFC market well into the 2040s. 

Senator Dan Sullivan: “China is not a developing country”

Dan Sullivan said continuing to classify China as a developing country was a facade. “China is not a developing country. China is the second largest economy in the world. China is one of the most industrialised countries in the world. China has one of the biggest militaries in the world. The World Bank now even considers China to be an ‘upper middle income’ country. But what China keeps trying to do in international organisations and in international treaties is continue to get the same benefits afforded to truly developing countries.” 

He also said that as well as giving developing nations much more time to implement the treaty, the Kigali Amendment also gave China access to funding from the UN to implement the treaty. 

“So, in essence, right now, the way the treaty is organised, the United States gives the UN money to help implement the treaty, and a lot of that money is going to go to China.”

The US amendment will now be put before the UN prior to the next Montreal Protocol meeting in November. 

Related stories:

US Senate ratifies Kigali Amendment21 September 2022
USA: Ratification of the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC refrigerants has finally passed the US Senate. Read more…

Latest News

21st November 2024

Ideal receives £5.2m government funding boost

UK: Heat pump manufacturer Ideal Heating and its hot water cylinder manufacturing sister company Gledhill have received almost £5.2m from the UK government.
21st November 2024

Poland seizes 115 tonnes of F-gas

POLAND: At least 115 tonnes of F-gas are said to have been seized in Poland as part of a European crackdown on the illegal F-gas trade.
21st November 2024

EU crackdown disrupts illegal HFC trade

BELGIUM: A six-month operation to disrupt the illegal trade in refrigerant gases has intercepted more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent material. 
21st November 2024

UK government boost for heat pumps

UK: The UK government has announced a boost for heat pumps with an extra £30m for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the relaxing of planning application rules.
20th November 2024

EIA survey finds leaks at 50% of stores

USA: An undercover investigation claims to have detected HFC refrigerant leaks at 50% of supermarkets visited in Northern California.
20th November 2024

Police bust scrap AC network

SPAIN: The Civil Guard says it has uncovered a network dedicated to illegal handling of refrigerant and waste electrical and electronic equipment.