Decrying calls for a carbon tax on imported goods as trade protectionism, Assistant Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao said the Chinese government is firmly against the idea, adding that it violates World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.

At a press conference yesterday, Zhu and several senior officials explained China's stance on major issues such as climate change and the recovery of the economy, topics being discussed later this month in New York and at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Developed countries, such as the US and France, have threatened to levy carbon tariffs on goods imported from developing countries thought to be unequipped with stringent environmental laws.