Budget/Trade
Changes on tax, trade panels certain, but effects are unclear
Definite changes await the congressional panels in charge of taxes and trade, but what they mean for related environmental issues is harder to discern. Recent tax bills have seen attempts to increase inducements for conservation easements, brownfields cleanups and alternative energy production; they have also seen attempts at more credits for the more traditional oil and gas industries. On trade, environmentalists have sought greater consideration for natural resource protection and other issues in international agreements.