Mike Pence: Paris deal meant free pass for India, China

The “terrible” Paris climate deal would have given a virtual “free pass” to India and China and cost the US economy more than 6.5 million jobs, Vice President Mike Pence said today.

“This President put America first not long ago when President Donald Trump made the decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accord,” Pence said in his remarks to the National Association of Manufacturers.

Trump earlier this month announced the withdrawal of the US from the Paris agreement on climate change, saying the “draconian” deal unfairly punished America and benefited countries like India and China.

“You know, one study found that the Paris Accord would have actually cost the US economy more than 6.5 million manufacturing jobs in the next 25 years, while giving countries like China and India virtually a free pass,” Pence said.