Dems Propose a Border Tax Based on Countries’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions

"Senators introduced a plan on Monday to tax iron, steel and other imports from countries without ambitious climate laws."

"WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers on Monday proposed to raise as much as $16 billion annually by imposing a tax on imports from China and other countries that are not significantly reducing the planet-warming pollution that they produce.

The tax would be levied regardless of whether Congress passed new laws to reduce emissions created by the United States. It would be designed to be approximately equivalent to the costs faced by American companies under state and federal environmental regulations.

Experts said a border carbon tax would almost certainly provoke America’s trading partners and could create serious diplomatic challenges ahead of United Nations climate negotiations set for November in Glasgow."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times July 19, 2021.

Source: NYTimes, 07/20/2021