Since 2005, the trade bloc has operated the world's only continentwide
system that puts a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and that requires major polluters to hold
tradable allowances.
For purposes of this section, the term «cap and trade program» means a
system of greenhouse gas regulation under which a State or political subdivision issues a limited number of
tradable instruments in the nature of emission
allowances and requires that sources within its jurisdiction surrender such tradeable instruments for each unit of greenhouse gases emitted during a compliance period.