U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol Oct. 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
U.S. Sen. Angus King isn’t normally keen on tariffs, but there is one he would welcome under the upcoming pro-tariff administration.
“If we can slip in a tariff on carbon intensity, as part of the president’s program, that would be a major achievement,” King said during a panel discussion hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning that explored international policy on trade, tariffs and carbon emissions.
A tariff that taxes imported products based on their carbon footprint would level the playing field between American manufacturers and those in other countries who ignore the environmental impact of their work, King said. The senator has been working on pending legislation that he said could provide the foundation for a policy that incorporates the environment and trade.
But, he added, “the question will be whether we can persuade the Trump administration that the tariff, which they like, is worth imposing to confront a subject [climate change] that they’re skeptical about.”
Throughout the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump touted tariffs as a negotiating tool for better trade terms and a means for generating revenue. Experts and economists worry import taxes could upset trade partners, worsen inflation and raise costs for American families. Meanwhile, the Republican rolled back climate efforts during his first term and has promised to take similar measures during his next four years, including promises to end clean energy projects like offshore wind.
The sort of policy King spoke of is already taking shape in other parts of the world. The European Union adopted a similar tax in 2023, known as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM, that will take effect in the coming years.
Need for ‘good data’
During the Zoom discussion, King described legislation that he co-sponsored as the first step to that sort of carbon footprint-based import tax. The PROVE IT Act, introduced by Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, would direct the U.S. Department of Energy to collect data on the greenhouse gas emissions required to make a range of products made in the United States and compare what it takes to make those same products in other countries.
“Right now we have a kind of instinct of carbon intensity of various products produced in various parts of the world, but we really don’t have any substantial data,” King said, adding that “good policy starts with good data.”
First introduced in June 2023, the PROVE IT Act has not received a vote in either the Senate or U.S. House of Representatives.
Patrick Woodcock, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said he was intrigued by the legislation because he said it could provide a reframing that would put the U.S. in a more competitive position for manufacturing.
King, an independent, also said this could be an opportunity for bipartisan work, especially as Republicans take control of Congress and the White House.
While he doesn’t anticipate difficulty garnering support from Democrats, King worries there will be some Republicans who are opposed because they are skeptical of anything related to climate change. The bill already has several Republican co-sponsors from North Dakota, Alaska, South Carolina, Louisiana and Arkansas. Six other Democrats have also signed onto the bill.
However, “collecting data should not be a partisan issue,” King said, so he thinks there’s a path forward for the PROVE IT Act.
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