A trade war is simmering between China and the EU over the European Union's move to impose charges on airlines based on the greenhouse gases emitted during a flight into and out of European airports. It is being speculated that as free allowances will be reduced in future years, the charge to be paid will rise, which will raise the price of passenger tickets and the cost of transporting goods, and affecting the profitability and viability of airlines.

China, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil and the United States, consider this to be move to be unfair and illegal as they will be the most adversely affected by this decision. The countries are particularly angry that the EU is imposing a charge on emissions produced during the entire flight of an aircraft and not just on the portion of the flight that is in European airspace.It is being said that if these unilateral measures are implemented then developing countries will be victimized for a problem that has historically been caused largely by developed countries which could lead to a growing crisis in both the climate change regime and the multilateral trade regime.