Sunday, November 12, 2023

Wicker drops carbon tariff support

U.S. Sen Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), one of three Republican backers of new legislation tying trade policy to emissions reduction goals, has withdrawn his endorsement, which could be a sign of how much work advocates have ahead of them in building bipartisan support around the concept of carbon tariffs.

On Nov. 7, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) unveiled his highly anticipated “Foreign Pollution Fee Act.” Wicker was on a list of co-sponsors.

The senator's spokesperson, Phillip Waller, explained that “the senator had expressed interest in an earlier form of the proposal to protect American manufacturers, [he] decided upon further review of the final text that he could not ultimately cosponsor the legislation.” 

In brief remarks to E&E News, Wicker said that “it’s just not what I had originally agreed to.” 

The bill, which was rolled out last Thursday, is the first Republican-authored framework for imposing fees on carbon-intensive industrial and energy imports. (E&E News 11/08/23) Wicker withdraws support for GOP carbon tariff bill - E&E News by POLITICO (eenews.net)

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