Two days after Obama said we should not have import taxes in the climate/emissions bill because of protectionsim, the wacko free traders at the WTO say just the opposite.

Import taxes on goods coming from countries that fail to meet environmental standards might be among the measures exceptionally permitted under global free trade laws, WTO said.

The principle of establishing import taxes (also known as border adjustments) on cost differentials is an important one.  Whether or not the climate/emissions bill passes, the principle of dealing with regulatory and cost disparities through border adjustments is an important one to balance trade and re-establish credibility in the trade regime.

Trade can only be good if it is balanced.  If it is unbalanced, then the results are disruptive at best and catastrophic at worst.