UC San Diego

Abstract Trade barriers, including tariff and non-tariff measures, are growing in scope and salience globally, with important implications for the future of the U.S. energy system. While energy trade policy traditionally concerned fossil fuel disruptions, the growth in alternative energy technologies has prompted new concerns and interventions to grow local industries, protect against novel security concerns, and stimulate clean energy adoption. Here, a systematic assessment of trade measures applied in the U.S. traces the evolution over time and maps their prospective sectoral impacts in terms of energy security and adequacy, upward price pressure, and clean energy and emissions. Policy recommendations for achieving nominal trade policy goals and mitigating energy system impacts are offered.