Bipartisan Policy Center Highlights Foreign Pollution's Impact on U.S. Commerce
The Bipartisan Policy Center has submitted comments to the United States Trade Representative regarding the Section 301 investigations into foreign manufacturing practices. The Center emphasizes that lax environmental standards in countries like China result in significant pollution that reaches the United States, adversely affecting air quality and U.S. commerce. The report highlights that pollutants from Asia, carried by atmospheric winds, contribute to 'nonattainment' designations under the Clean Air Act, which restricts domestic manufacturing and impacts the health of the American workforce. The Center argues that foreign pollution elevates ozone levels on the U.S. West Coast, contributing to nonattainment in at least 85 counties. The report suggests that policy solutions, such as tariffs, could incentivize better environmental practices abroad. 
