US considers first fuel tax hike since 1993

Donald Trump’s apparent – though as yet unconfirmed – willingness to endorse a tax increase of 25 cents per gallon to be levied upon both gasoline and diesel comes as something of a surprise, given both his penchant for populism and his track record on tax reform.

Trump is not alone in his reported views. The US Chamber of Commerce recently proposed a similar US$0.25 increase in Federal Excise Tax on Motors Fuels, phased in at US$0.05 per year over five years. Virginia-headquartered American Trucking Associations (ATA) is less ambitious, but still wants