Cassidy, Graham Release Discussion Draft on Trade, Manufacturing Policy to Hold China Accountable

Senators Collecting Feedback on Revised Foreign Pollution Fee Act Through January 2025

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a new discussion draft of their Foreign Pollution Fee Act to level the playing field with Chinese manufacturing and expand American production for public comment. The discussion draft comes after Cassidy's "Louisiana Energy Security Summit: Unleashing America Abundance in a Changing Global Landscape," which brought together leaders from the federal, state, and local government, industry, and the research community in Baton Rouge and highlighted the need for a trade and manufacturing policy that puts Americans first.

"It is only fair to the American worker that we charge China the same thing we charge ourselves to control pollution," said Dr. Cassidy. "We cannot let the Chinese Communist Party take our jobs by not enforcing environmental regulations. The Foreign Pollution Fee begins to make China pay, promotes fair trade, preserves jobs in Louisiana, and revives American manufacturing for the future"

"It is long past time that the polluters of the world, like China and others, pay a price for their environmental policies. This bill calls out the foreign polluters and rewards American businesses who are doing the right thing," said Senator Graham. "We are leveling the playing field, and American manufacturers and business will be the biggest beneficiaries."

Adversaries exploit lax environmental and labor standards to gain an unfair trade advantage over American companies. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act is a trade and manufacturing policy that addresses the geopolitical challenges confronting U.S. businesses and workers.

The Foreign Pollution Fee Act:

• Combats China's Exploitation of Trade Rules: This policy will level the playing field for U.S. businesses by countering the unfair practices of non-market economies like China, ensuring American manufacturers can compete and thrive.
• Strengthens Global Supply Chain Resilience: Diversifying trade relationships will reduce dependence on adversarial nations, making supply chains more secure against geopolitical disruptions and enhancing national security.
• Revitalizes American Manufacturing: By discouraging imports of pollution-intensive goods, this policy will bring jobs back home, strengthen domestic industries, and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
• Expands U.S. Export Markets: As high-polluting countries modernize their industries, they'll increasingly demand American-made inputs, feedstocks, and cutting-edge technologies, opening new opportunities for U.S. exports.
• Deepens Trade Ties with Allies: By promoting partnerships with nations that share our economic and environmental values, this policy builds a coalition against predatory practices by the Chinese Communist Party, supporting emerging markets and allies alike.
• Rewards Leadership in Cleaner Manufacturing: The policy incentivizes international partners to adopt cleaner production methods while ensuring that domestic manufacturers maintain a competitive edge by continuing to lead in industrial decarbonization.

Please send feedback to [email protected] by Friday, January 17, 2025.

Click here to read the discussion draft bill text and here to read a two-pager.

Background

Cassidy and Graham introduced their Foreign Pollution Fee Act to level the playing field with Chinese manufacturing and expand American production.

The Foreign Pollution Fee Act was a key topic at Cassidy's Louisiana Energy Security Summit. The summit featured ten panels that explored protecting U.S. interests from unfair trade practices, Louisiana's low-emission manufacturing advantage, and the role of natural gas in strengthening U.S. geopolitical influence. Panelists included presidents and CEOs from Entergy, First Solar, Buzzi UnicemUSA, Orsted, and Aluminum Technologies, former Trump administration officials, and leaders from Louisiana trade associations and major energy and Fortune 500 companies.

In September, he released the 3^rd episode of Bill on the Hill, where he highlights his Foreign Pollution Fee Act and discusses China's growing economy and military coming at the expense of the American worker. After hearing fellow Americans share their concerns, Cassidy presented his plan to address the nexus between economic development, national security, and the environment. His Foreign Pollution Fee Act would even the playing field while holding China accountable.

He penned editorials in Foreign Affairs, The Washington Times, and jointly in the USA Today Network discussing the geopolitical threat that China poses to U.S. global standing. Cassidy also joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss his foreign pollution fee, noting the competitive advantage China receives from intentionally ignoring environmental standards.

Last Spring, the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution urging Congress to pursue an industrial manufacturing and trade policy to counter competition from China. Learn more here.

Last Congress, Cassidy released a landmark energy policy outline in response to the Biden-Harris administration's assault on domestic energy. The outline details how we can successfully reset U.S. energy policy, including Cassidy's plan for an Energy Operation Warp Speed to cut permitting red tape and unleash domestic energy and manufacturing. Cassidy led Republican colleagues in opposition to a domestic carbon tax and introduced the first comprehensive judicial reform for permitting bill. He also pushed back on disastrous proposals from the Biden administration to limit development in the Outer Continental Shelf with the introduction of the WHALE Act and the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023.

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