U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham have released a discussion draft of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, aiming to balance competition between American and Chinese manufacturing. The proposal seeks public feedback on measures intended to expand U.S. production and ensure fair trade practices.
Dr. Cassidy emphasized the importance of charging China equally for pollution control as is done domestically: "It is only fair to the American worker that we charge China the same thing we charge ourselves to control pollution." He added that this initiative aims to preserve jobs in Louisiana and revive American manufacturing.
Senator Graham supported this view, stating, "It is long past time that the polluters of the world, like China and others, pay a price for their environmental policies. This bill calls out the foreign polluters and rewards American businesses who are doing the right thing."
The proposed legislation addresses concerns over foreign entities exploiting lax environmental standards for competitive advantage against U.S. companies. It was a focal point at Cassidy’s recent Louisiana Energy Security Summit in Baton Rouge, which gathered leaders from various sectors to discuss protecting U.S. interests against unfair trade practices.
Feedback on the draft can be sent to Christine_Harbin@cassidy.senate.gov by January 17, 2025.
Cassidy has been vocal about China's impact on global economic dynamics through editorials and media appearances, advocating for policies that counteract these influences while promoting national security and environmental responsibility.
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