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This is an emerging talking point, but tariffs are a shoot-yourself-in-the-foot maneuver; restricting free trade increases the barriers to innovation, and innov
by pvnick 9y ago
This is an emerging talking point, but tariffs are a shoot-yourself-in-the-foot maneuver; restricting free trade increases the barriers to innovation, and innovation is precisely what renewable energy sources need to become cost effective.
- celticninja 9y agoWe aren't talking about a tariff on renewable energy production though are we. A Tariff on goods produced by companies/factories that are powered by coal or natural gas due for export to the rest of the world. Prove you use renewable energy and you dont pay the tariff, this would motivate companies who export to adopt greener energy. It would also make trade freer for companies who do this and more difficult for those who do not, therefore there is incentive to innovate to use renewable energy.
- pvnick 9y agoDoesn't matter - tariffs decrease purchasing power (these things have a tendency to affect unrelated markets because of the economy's interconnectedness), and lower purchasing power means slower economic activity, which includes investment in things like research.
- KSteffensen 9y agoSlower economic activity might not be a bad thing. Global CO2 output was definitely positively affected by the financial crisis. This also broke the EUs climate quota system, but that's a separate discussion.
- pvnick 9y agoIt may be fine for self-absorbed silicon valley types with plenty to eat but that sentiment condemns people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder to financial ruin and death.
- KSteffensen 9y agoI know it's unpopular in the US but higher taxes on rich people/companies and higher well fare benefits might also be a way to help people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.
- tom_mellior 9y agoThe idea of such a tariff, imposed by countries other than the US, would not be either preserving US "economic activity", nor to foster "investment in things like research" in the US.
- dhimes 9y agoSimplest answer: a tariff on cars and trucks. Hurt Trump's supporters directly.
- pvnick 9y agoWhat an unnecessarily cruel thing to desire