Manchin Introduces Bill To Tighten IRA Implementation Amid EU Dispute

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has introduced a bill to overrule Biden administration concessions and tighten implementation of the tax credits which have drawn sharp criticism from US allies in Europe and Asia.

• Manchin said in a statement: “It is unacceptable that the US Treasury continues to make the full [USD]$7,500 credits available without meeting all of the clear [IRA] requirements...
• “The IRA and the EV tax credits must be implemented according to the Congressional intent to ensure the United States, as the superpower of the world, is not beholden to countries that don’t share our values."
• Comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s cabinet chief Björn Seibert is in Washington today to meet with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese for IRA discussions.
• Manchin's comments will be taken poorly in European capitals after a combative appearance at the WEF where he told EU leaders the IRA would "keep America strong" so the US can "help our friends" but conceded to Bloomberg, he “...did not realize the EU is not a free trade agreement,” -the primary source of tensions over the IRA.