Scheduling optimization problem considering time-of-use tariffs and piece-rate machine maintenance in EAF steelmaking

An operating schedule of the parallel electric arc furnaces(EAFs)considering both productivity and energy related criteria is investigated.A mathematical model is established to minimize the total completion time and the total electricity cost.This problem is proved to be an NP-hard problem,and an effective solution algorithm,longest processing time-genetic(LPT-gene)algorithm,is proposed.The impacts of varied processing energy consumption and electricity price on the optimal schedules are analyzed.The integrated influence of the different weight values and the variation between the peak price and the trough price on the optimal solution is studied.Computational experiments illustrate that considering the energy consumption costs in production has little influence on makespan;the computational performance of the proposed longest processing time-genetic algorithm is better than the genetic algorithm(GA)in the issue to be studied;considerable reductions in the energy consumption costs can be achieved by avoiding producing during high-energy price periods and reducing the machining energy consumption difference.The results can be a guidance for managers to improve productivity and to save energy costs under the time-of-use tariffs.

Study on Low Carbon Trade Development in China Pearl River Delta Region Initiated by Low Carbon Tariffs

In order to clarify the linkage between carbon tariffs and trade development, the Pearl River Delta region of China, the area with intensive processing trade, was selected to analyze the effects of carbon tariff collections on the production cost, export commodity structure, trade modes and trade terms of the export industries in the Pearl River Delta region, and measures of developing low carbon trade were proposed.

The Effect of Variable Electricity Tariffs in the Household on Usage of Household Appliances

Demand side management (DSM) has been discussed and investigated widely as a strategy to also influence residential energy consumption. Flexible energy tariffs are often proposed as a possible tool of DSM. However, real-life experience with this tool is rare. It was therefore the objective of this study to investigate under more realistic conditions how consumers are able and willing to adjust their residential energy consumption under the conditions of flexible energy tariffs with and without the support of intelligent smart appliances. Sixty-seven households in Germany within an experimental design with fictive tariff model (August 11 to July 12) driven by RWE Effizienz GmbH, as the energy utility, and Miele & Cie.KG, as the appliance manufacturer, were equipped with intelligent smart meters and 41 of them also with smart appliances (washing-machine and tumble-dryer). As a first part of the experiment, the energy tariff changed per hour and day by day, depending on the forecast of the availability of renewable energy in Germany between 10 €-Cent and 40 €-Cent per kWh. Consumers could respond to this change by adjusting the operation of their energyconsuming appliances either by themselves or—with the smart appliances—by a programmed start at low tariffs. The behaviour of the 41 consumers with smart appliances and their motivation are intensively investigated and analysed during this running two year project including several questionnaires. The consumers had to fill out daily a diary about the usage of their washing-machine, tumble-dryer, dishwasher and ironing devices. These data were matched with the actual tariff. This did allow identifying if and to which extend the consumers adjust their household activities depending on availability of solar and wind energy. These data were also used to calculate the cost savings by using the flexible tariff. In comparison to the costs of the fixed tariff of 25 €-Cent per kWh savings of 25% were realised on average. The results of a first phase already show that flexible tariffs are able to influence the operation of household appliances towards a flexible demand.

Several iron ore exporting countries raised tariffs

It is learned from oversea reports that, Indonesia launched a 20% tariff on 14 mineral products including iron ore since May 6th. It is reported, in addition to Indonesia, other countries will lift tariffs or limit the export of mineral resources.

Advancing the Multilateral Regional Cooperation in Economy and Trade with the Scheme Reform of Zero Tariffs

China＇s tariff arrangement in the transition period after ＂entry to WTO＂ influences the process of the multilateral trade system in the world. Establishing the free trade area and customs union according to WTO/GATS 1994 article 24, or according to authorizing the clause （Enabling Clause ） to sign the regional trade agreement between developing countries or signed the protocol of economic integration taking promoting and serving the liberalization of trade as purpose according to WTO/GATS article 5, include the regional trade agreement in the multilateral trade system frame to standardize, supervise and coordinate to China, reduce trade protectionism and improve the multilateral trade system＇s influence in the world greatly. Drawing lessons from CEPA and China the system of the manoeuvre ahead of time of overall ＂entry to WTO＂ of ASEAN Free Trade Area and arrange, accelerate multilateral regional cooperation in economy and trade, zero tariff scheme reform favors route choice.

Cross-Subsidy in Electricity Tariffs in China

With the incessant development of power market reform,the existing cross-subsidy in electricity tariffs has become a critical problem in China's power industry development.On the basis of the theories of cross-subsidy and electricity universal service,the authors take foreign countries' experience as reference to design several solutions to cross-subsidies in electricity tariffs in different phases of China's power industry development.Furthermore,the application and implementation of these solutions are analyzed in this paper.

EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE AND TARIFFS ON AN OPEN ECONOMY OF SCARCITY OF CAPITAL

In this paper, the impact of tariffs and exchange rate on consumption and investment in an open economy of scarcity of capital is analysed.The dynamics and market price of capital,and the solution of foreign asset holding of the firm are discussed.Particular attention is also devoted to the social welfare aspects.

Optimal privatisation,and optimum-welfare and maximum-revenue tariffs

We examine the effect of privatisation on the priority of the maximum-revenue tariff and the optimum-welfare tariff in an international mixed oligopoly with foreign competition and optimal privatisation.We demonstrate that when the marginal cost of the domestic privatised firm is high enough,the optimumwelfare tariff will exceed the maximum-revenue tariff.Moreover,due to the higher tariff rate that leads to the high degree of privatisation,the optimum-welfare tariff generates greater optimal privatisation than the maximum-revenue tariff does.Lastly,when the gap between the number of domestic private firms and that of their foreign counterparts becomes larger,the optimum-welfare tariff will exceed the maximum-revenue tariff.

Trade Destruction and Trade Deflection:A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the US Additional Tariffs

This paper adopts the DID approach to investigate the trade destruction effects and trade deflection effects of the US additional tariffs.The authors find that the US additional tariffs significantly reduce China's exports of tariffed products to the US(i.e.,trade destruction effect),especially intermediate and labor-intensive products.On the other hand,they significantly increase China's exports of tariffed products to the third market(i.e.,trade deflection effect).For the$50 billion list,both the trade destruction effect and trade deflection effect are concentrated on processing exports,and the US additional tariffs significantly increase China's exports of tariffed products to ASEAN,Japan and Australia.For the$200 billion list,the US additional tariffs boost China's exports of chemicals,textiles,wood,metal products,furniture and other products to the EU,Australia,Japan,South Africa and Hong Kong,China.Furthermore,most trade deflections are not realized by lowering export prices,indicating that the trade deflections could compensate for the profit losses caused by the US additional tariffs to a certain extent.The proposed results suggest that searching for substitutions of export markets and a more open trade policy is an important way to avoid profit losses and reduce risks for enterprises and economies suffering from trade frictions.

How Will the Implementation of Zero Tariffs Affect Employment in China?

This paper studies the employment effect of China’s possible implementation of zero tariffs by comparing China s most-favored-nation tariffs and the tariff schedules of China’s signed free trade agreements(FTAs)with the tariff concessions in a typical high-standard FTA.It finds that there is a large gap between China s current tariff status and a high-standard FTA,and the implementation of zero tariffs in China would have a significant negative impact on employment in some industries.However,the employment effect of implementing zero tariffs is heterogeneous.Analysis at the industrial level shows that,although employment would drop in a few industries as a result of the implementation of zero tariffs,more jobs would be created in most industries.The overall employment effect of a zero tariff policy would be positive,creating an estimated 8.05 million jobs in China.Therefore,China should consider the adjustment costs brought by the labor movement in different industries and introduce relevant policies to deal with the employment shocks caused by zero tariffs.

Electric Vehicle Charging Load Optimization Strategy Based on Dynamic Time-of-Use Tariff

Electric vehicle(EV)is an ideal solution to resolve the carbon emission issue and the fossil fuels scarcity problem in the future.However,a large number of EVs will be concentrated on charging during the valley hours leading to new load peaks under the guidance of static time-of-use tariff.Therefore,this paper proposes a dynamic time-of-use tariff mechanism,which redefines the peak and valley time periods according to the predicted loads using the fuzzy C-mean(FCM)clustering algorithm,and then dynamically adjusts the peak and valley tariffs according to the actual load of each time period.Based on the proposed tariff mechanism,an EV charging optimization model with the lowest cost to the users and the lowest variance of the grid-side load as the objective function is established.Then,a weight selection principle with an equal loss rate of the two objectives is proposed to transform the multi-objective optimization problem into a single-objective optimization problem.Finally,the EV charging load optimization model under three tariff strategies is set up and solved with the mathematical solver GROUBI.The results show that the EV charging load optimization strategy based on the dynamic time-of-use tariff can better balance the benefits between charging stations and users under different numbers and proportions of EVs connected to the grid,and can effectively reduce the grid load variance and improve the grid load curve.

Sci-Tech Innovation Spearheads Development

In contrast to the countries which,in imposing unreasonable tariffs and enacting discriminatory bills,have wielded the cudgel of protectionism,China has vowed to ratchet up efforts to foster a globally competitive,open environment for scientific and technological innovation.Chinese President Xi Jinping laid emphasis on those efforts on June 11,while presiding over the fifth meeting of the Central Commission for Deepening Overall Reform.

A Lesson for the West

While China trims the sails to meet temporary economic headwinds head-on by unveiling a package of incremental policies,some Western countries must realize anti-China measures like increased tariffs will only lead to their own higher inflation.

More Tariffs on Chinese Goods Are a Blow To U.S. Fashion Industry

The apparel industry’s top leaders gathered at the opening ceremony of the China Footwear Pavilion at the Las Vegas MAGIC Trade Show on August 12 to support maintaining strong trading ties with the Asian country and voice opposition to the U.S.Governments escalating tariffs.

Tariffs on China Will Hurt U.S. Businesses

Kevin Cheung, vice preside nt of a New York-based clothing firm, recently twisted his ankle and is steadily recovering from an intense burning sensation. Yet there are no signs of the easing of the "slow bum" that his company, Lisa International, has been suffering since the U.S. initiated a tariff dispute with China last March.

Lower Tariffs,Greater Benefits

The lowering of tariffs on a wide range of consumer goods will benefit foreign brands in the Chinese market, and in the long run will also give a boost to domestic producers.

Zero Tariffs——A Blessing or a Curse?

Opinions are split on the impact of WTO’s trillion-dollar IT trade deal on ChinaThe 54 WTO members representing major exporters of information technology（IT）products finalized a deal in Geneva on July 24 to eliminate tariffs on 201 such products,in an effort to boost global trade of goods ranging from video games to medical equipment.The agreement came as an update of WTO’s 18-year-old Information Technology Agreement（ITA）.

Impact of Russian Log Export Tariffs on China

Based on the introduction of the Sino-Russian timber trade and the history about timber export in Russia,the paper gives the reasons for the adjustment in Russian timber export and its influence on timber import in China.Finally countermeasures against Russian adjustment in timber export tariffs are proposed.

Probabilistic Assessment of Impact of Flexible Loads Under Network Tariffs in Low-voltage Distribution Networks

Given the historically static nature of low-voltage networks, distribution network companies do not possess the tools for dealing with an increasingly variable demand due to the high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs). Within this context, this paper proposes a probabilistic framework for tariff design that minimises the impact of DER on network performance, stabilises the revenue of network company, and improves the equity of network cost allocation. To deal with the lack of customers’ response, we also show how DER-specific tariffs can be complemented with an automated home energy management system (HEMS) that reduces peak demand while retaining the desired comfort level. The proposed framework comprises a nonparametric Bayesian model which statistically generates synthetic load and PV traces, a hot-water-use statistical model, a novel HEMS to schedule customers’ controllable devices, and a probabilistic power flow model. Test cases using both energy- and demand-based network tariffs show that flat tariffs with a peak demand component reduce the customers’ cost, and alleviate network constraints. This demonstrates, firstly, the efficacy of the proposed tool for the development of tariffs that are beneficial for the networks with a high penetration of DERs, and secondly, how customers’ HEM systems can be part of the solution.