Analysis on the effects of Clean Competition Act on the Primary Paper Industry of Korea; 미국 청정경쟁법 도입이 제지산업의 수출 비용에 미치는 영향

초록

The U.S. government plans to implement the Clean Competition Act (CCA) as a trade policy from 2025 to reduce carbon emissions from manufacturing in order to decarbonize the industrial sector. Since the paper industry is one of the 12 targeted sectors, domestic paper manufacturers and the government must proactively prepare for its implications. This study analyzes the impact of the U.S. Clean Competition Act on South Korean paper product exports and forecasts the additional costs associated with a carbon tax. Notably, the U.S. imports approximately one-sixth of South Korea's paper product exports, and South Korea's current carbon intensity stands at 0.167 tCO₂eq/t lower than that of the U.S. However, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios, additional carbon taxes may be implemented in 2030 and 2025 under the scenarios in which global temperatures rise by 2°C and remain below 2°C, respectively. Specifically, the projected additional carbon tax could reach approximately $5,621,380 by 2050. Given that the paper industry is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative for this sector to urgently reduce emissions during production. To effectively address these challenges, the industry must focus on transitioning to eco-friendly production methods that enhance energy and resource efficiency, rather than merely investing in new facilities. Furthermore, government support is essential for research, development, and dissemination of greenhouse gas reduction technologies and process improvements. © 2024 Korean Technical Assoc. of the Pulp and Paper Industry. All rights reserved.

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