THANK GOODNESS FOR TRANSNATIONALISM:

Obama champions energy bill but not its tariffs: The president calls the measure 'an extraordinary first step' toward a halt to global warming but sounds a cautionary note about its provision to penalize countries that don't similarly crack down (Jim Tankersley, June 29, 2009, LA Times)

Obama sounded optimistic about its prospects in the Senate, where the House version will be the blueprint, he said. The proposal must navigate concerns from more than a dozen Democratic senators who represent oil, coal or manufacturing-heavy states.

Asked if he supported a provision, inserted late in the House debate, that seeks to penalize imports from nations that fail to cut their emissions in step with the United States, Obama said:

"At a time when the economy worldwide is still deep in recession and we've seen a significant drop in global trade, I think we have to be very careful about sending any protectionist signals."

He noted that the bill contained other provisions to defend U.S. manufacturers and their employees from lower-cost foreign competition -- including free emissions permits for energy-intensive industries vulnerable to foreign trade, such as steel and aluminum.

"I am very mindful of wanting to make sure there is a level playing field internationally," he said. "I think there may be other ways to do it than with a tariff approach."

The WTO would strike them down anyway.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 29, 2009 7:35 AM