When I read of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s concern that consumers are being “bigfooted” with low-cost electric vehicles from China and that our government may step in and keep prices higher, I was taken aback. While the Biden administration’s protectionist trade stance has been fairly clear, officials have also been vocal about protecting ordinary shoppers from corporate America’s high prices. So, it’s remarkable to hear one choosing, apparently, to protect our taxpayer-subsidized manufacturing sector.

“We are very concerned about China bigfooting our industry in the United States even as we’re building up now this incredible backbone of manufacturing,” Granholm said. Evidently, despite an aging U.S. auto fleet and consumers weary from huge auto price increases, the Biden administration won’t accept the arrival of cheaper cars. Instead, we got the message that citizens will be asked to pay twice: once to subsidize U.S. manufacturing and again to pay higher prices for vehicles produced in our hot-house economy.