With current international climate negotiations flawed with a focus on commitments on the two targeted dates of 2020 and 2050, the inclusion of border carbon adjustment measures seems essential to secure passage of any US climate legislation. Against this background, this viewpoint remarks on the needs on the US side to minimize the potential conflicts with WTO provisions in designing its border carbon adjustment measures, and provides suggestions for China how to effectively deal to its advantage while being targeted by such proposed border measures. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.