The US Congress is expected to pass a bill in the coming weeks expressing its formal opposition to a new EU law requiring commercial airlines to buy carbon permits for every tonne of CO2 they emit flying in and out of the bloc's airports.

Although the bill is considered less inflammatory than previously tabled proposals banning US airlines from complying with the regulation, it will no doubt stoke tensions between Brussels and Washington.

The EU incensed the US and many other countries, including China, India and Russia, by including all airlines servicing Europe in its emissions trading system (EU ETS) from 1 January. US airlines sought to have the legislation declared illegal on the basis that it infringes international aviation treaties, but this was dismissed by the European Court of Justice in December.

However, the US is known to be considering retaliatory measures, while the trade body for China's main airlines has said it will refuse to cooperate with the law, a stance that could risk fines or even aircraft being grounded.

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