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Panel encourages Ambassador Tai to address climate through trade

Some environmental experts are encouraging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to address climate change through trade policy.

Lisa Handy with the Environmental Investigation Agency says enforceability is critical.

“Really focusing on enforcement and enforceability of trade provisions that have been negotiated for the environment as well as moving forward looking innovatively at negotiating enforceable and implementable provisions,” she says.  

Ben Beachy, director of the living economy program at the Sierra Club, says a carbon dumping fee could help.

“One tool to help slow the race to the bottom is that the U.S. could impose a fee on imports that are made with a high degree of climate pollution,” he says.

He says it could incentive countries to meet climate goals to ensure duty free access to the U.S. and could also bolster manufacturing jobs and advance racial equity.

These comments were made during a recent virtual event by the Center for American Progress. Tai provided a keynote address and was followed by a panel of experts with environmental organizations.