Protectionism in the Name of Global Warming Regulations
Nicolas Loris /
Protectionism is always bad policy. But protectionism during an economic downturn, after taxes have already risen, and in addition to a massive $2 trillion tax on energy consumption is, well, not good.
Yet that is exactly what Energy Secretary David Chu seems to be edging towards.
In response to the notion that American companies will move overseas when CO2 is capped, Secretary Chu suggested that the U.S. simply levy a carbon tariff on imports.
This is why Secretaries of Energy should stick with energy and not economic policy. This is why free-markets work and command and control economies do not.