Continuing disagreements between the US and China on the implementation of the second iteration of the Kyoto Protocol carbon emissions agreement have cast new doubt on the outcome of the ongoing climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, Bloomberg reported. Todd Stern, lead US envoy to the climate talks, said that China’s proposals are "business as usual." China has proposed to make voluntary, unenforceable commitments to reduce carbon emissions while requiring the US to make mandatory cuts, which Stern said is "at some level a step backwards." The US is unwilling to accept mandatory cuts for itself or a voluntary system in which Chinese cuts are not subject to international inspection. However, Chinese negotiators have recently expressed flexibility on the inspection issue.