Cindy Carr (202) 495-3034 or cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the U.S. and South Korea reached an agreement “in principle” on the six-year-old U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) in which, among other things, South Korea has agreed to double the number of higher-polluting U.S. vehicles that may be imported each year without having to meet Korea’s stricter auto emissions standards. South Korea also agreed to consider the weaker U.S. standards when developing their 2021-2025 auto emissions standards.
This announcement comes just days after EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt reportedly sided with Ford and the Auto Alliance to undo the clean car standards. The standards could limit carbon emissions by 6 billion tons, save consumers $1.7 trillion in fuel costs, and reduce oil consumption by up to 4 million barrels every day.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Director for Clean Transportation Andrew Linhardt released the following statement:
"The latest efforts by the Trump Administration to export pollution is yet another move in lockstep with Trump and Scott Pruitt’s plans to undermine the widely-supported clean car standards. The United States has fallen behind every other country in the world on climate action, but instead of leading the way to modernize the global clean energy economy, Donald Trump and his administration are working to exploit trade deals that prioritize polluter profits over people.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.