Where Climate and Trade Policy Meet

In this episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, Jason Bordoff interviews Ambassador Sarah Bianchi about the intersection of climate and trade policy. Bianchi discusses her role as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, focusing on the energy transition and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The conversation covers the tensions between domestic job creation, supply chain security, and the desire for cheap, clean energy, as well as challenges related to critical mineral processing and the role of tariffs. They explore the differences in trade approaches between the Trump and Biden administrations, the concept of "friend-shoring," and the potential for trade policy to catalyze climate-aligned investment in developing countries. Bianchi and Bordoff also address the complexities of balancing cooperation and competition with China, the politics of trade in Washington D.C., and the potential for carbon border adjustments.