Trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1T in solar panels, wind turbines

The United States, China, European Union and 11 other countries began talks Tuesday to end tariffs on nearly $1 trillion of environmental goods.

Diplomats from the various countries hope the proposed agreement crafted at the World Trade Organization will include 86 percent of trade for goods like solar panels, wind turbines, filters for wastewater treatment and catalytic converters for air pollution control, The Associated Press reports.

{mosads}An agreement is expected to cut tariffs up to 35 percent on dozens of items and help complete a piece of President Obama’s climate change plan.

“Today’s launch of the Environmental Goods Agreement underscores environmental protection on all fronts,” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement.

“By eliminating tariffs on the technologies we all need to protect our environment, we can make environmental goods cheaper and more accessible for everyone,” Froman added.

Other countries involved in the talks include Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, Japan and Korea.