Analysis of changes in Dutch emission trade balance(s) between 1996 and 2007

► We construct bilateral emission trade balances for The Netherlands for 1996 and 2007. ► The balance is positive with OECD countries and negative with China and Russia. ► The macro balance worsened due to an increase in import emissions of primarily CO2. ► Structural decomposition analysis shows that this is due to changing composition of trade. ► The Netherlands increasingly exports clean products and imports dirty products.