During the Democratic debate on Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-USSR) said he opposes the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal because it does not include the phrase “climate change” in it.
He first said he opposed the USMCA because it would lead to outsourcing. “Second of all, every major environmental organization has said no to this new trade agreement because it does not even have the phrase ‘climate change’ in it. And given the fact that climate change is right now the greatest threat facing this planet, I will not vote for a trade agreement that does not incorporate very, very strong principles to significantly lower fossil fuel emissions.”
He cited the opposition of the Sunrise Movement, a child-led group most notorious for bullying Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), who explained that bringing Congress together on the issue will require compromise.
"Given the fact that climate change is right now the GREATEST THREAT facing the planet, I will not vote for a trade agreement that does not incorporate very very strong principles to significantly lower fossil fuel emissions" @BernieSanders #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/3zuPeieZEo
— People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 15, 2020
Even climate alarmists should find Sanders’ standard here absurd. Trade deals need not deal with climate change in order to benefit the American people. The USMCA is not perfect, but it will help the U.S. economy, and that is what matters when it comes to trade.
On the flip side, if Bernie won’t support any legislation without “climate change,” that will take a great deal of potential danger off the table. His climate plans are too radical to pass, and nothing else can get his support.
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
