7thriv

If the Indispensable Man has accomplished one thing, it's that he has distracted us from other elements of the Obama administration who are also experiencing "growing pains" as they adjust to their new offices. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, for one must be grateful for the anonymity that he is able to operate under, so he can propose daft ideas like a "Carbon Tariff:"

Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Tuesday advocated adjusting trade duties as a "weapon" to protect U.S. manufacturing, just a day after one of China's top climate envoys warned of a trade war if developed countries impose tariffs on carbon-intensive imports.

Mr. Chu, speaking before a House science panel, said establishing a carbon tariff would help "level the playing field" if other countries haven't imposed greenhouse-gas-reduction mandates similar to the one President Barack Obama plans to implement over the next couple of years. It is the first time the Obama administration has made public its view on the issue.

"If other countries don't impose a cost on carbon, then we will be at a disadvantage...[and] we would look at considering perhaps duties that would offset that cost," Mr. Chu said.