Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Today, the Biden administration announced an increase in tariffs on imported goods from China to protect American workers and grow the domestic clean energy economy. The tariffs are targeted on a range of products that are essential to cleaner vehicles and clean energy, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals, and solar cells.
The tariff increase will help to prevent cheap, high-emissions imports, which are often made with forced labor, from flooding into the United States and squeezing out high-road, domestic clean manufacturers.
In December 2023, the Sierra Club released a report detailing actions the U.S. could take to leverage trade policies, such as tariffs, to fight climate change, create jobs, manufacture more domestically, ensure protections to vulnerable communities, and limit the influence of bad foreign actors polluting for profit.
In response to today’s announcement, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration’s increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers.
“Eroded by Donald Trump, the U.S.’s global leadership is again centerstage because President Biden is investing in a clean energy economy built by American workers. These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to repair the damage created by Trump’s actions and unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.