Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, released the following statement today on the Treasury Department’s guidance for implementing electric vehicle (EV) tax credits enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act:

“I share the Biden Administration’s view that we must accelerate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, a central goal of the Inflation Reduction Act, which I was proud to help pass into law.

“That said, I fear that the Administration’s go-it-alone approach on trade policy is risky and unsustainable. Changing the basic definition of free trade agreements for the purposes of skirting Congress’ intent in the Inflation Reduction Act, even for laudable climate and diplomatic goals, could easily be reversed by a future administration and set our climate agenda back immeasurably.

“Trade policy is best conducted in collaboration with Congress, as that requires buy-in from a wide cross-section of stakeholders throughout the economy and provides more certainty to our trade partners. As a member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, I know that my colleagues are eager to work with the Administration to build on our past bipartisan success of negotiating enforceable trade agreements with high labor and environmental standards.

“I urge the Administration to engage with Congress to chart a more collaborative course forward on both the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and our wider trade policy.”

Beyer serves as Vice Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), and wrote or cowrote a number of clean energy provisions that were included in the Inflation Reduction Act.