California Will Seek Trade Deals That Spare California From Retaliatory Tariffs

[viper37]

Gavin Newsom of California is trying to get around President Trump's tariffs to protect trade in a state with the world's fifth-largest economy, asking his administration on Friday to pursue new international trade deals to exempt California products from any retaliatory tariffs.
Newsom, a Democrat, called on foreign governments to exclude items made in California from any actions they take in response to the tariffs Mr. Trump announced this
"Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans, particularly those I represent here in the fifth largest economy in the world, the state of California," Mr. Newsom said in a video announcement. "California is a stable trading partner and we hope you remember that as you consider California-made products."

California is the nation's largest agricultural producer and home to the most Fortune 500 companies in the country. It exported $23.6 billion in agricultural products in 2022, with almonds, dairy products, pistachios, wine and walnuts making up the top exports.

The Newsom administration also fears that retaliatory tariffs from countries that provide construction supplies, including timber, steel and aluminum, could hamper rebuilding in Los Angeles after January's devastating

Mr. Newsom announced the plan early Friday in a news release and a brief video that did not dive into the details about how California's separate trade deals might work. He sent a similar announcement to the email list he uses for political fund-raising. "The trade war that Donald Trump has launched is going to be felt in pretty profound ways to real people, including those who voted for Donald Trump and are now being betrayed by this very administration," the email read.

The governor's announcement could ratchet up animosity between California and the Trump administration, which has already targeted the state with multiple investigations and legal challenges, including six announced in just one day last week, "Gavin Newsom should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in California instead of trying his hand at international dealmaking," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement about Mr. Newsom's appeal to other California's economy relies on heavy trade with Mexico, Canada and China. Mr. Newsom said Mr. Trump's tariffs could result in major disruptions in particular to supply chains that span the California-Mexico border. 

If these goods are taxed each time they cross the border, the price of the final product will rise and ultimately be passed on to California consumers," a statement from the governor's office read. "This will have far-reaching impacts, affecting everything from semiconductors to aerospace and automotive products."

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat, is also seeking to position his state as a reliable trading partner in a time of economic upheaval. In a visit to Mexico City this week, he signed an agreement to strengthen trade between Illinois and the most populous state in Mexico in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture and finance.  California already has agreements with dozens of international partners, many of them with foreign cities and regions that want to work with the state on economic and environmental inititial.

Last month, Mr. Newsom hosted the governor of the Mexican state of Sonora, and they signed agreements advancing development of clean energy and supply chains. In 2023, Mr. Newsom traveled to China and signed agreements with several cities and provinces to advance wind energy, clean shipping routes and methane reduction.

Newsom is positioning himself for a presidential campaign.

While unconstitutional, it's kinda meaningless now.

Also, very impractical.

First, everything is labeled as "Produced in the USA", with no distinction between states.  Every labels will have to be redone.  California will need to create its own trade missions everywhere, open trade embassies in the most important countries it deals with, hire negotiators, etc...  And then, its citizens will keep paying the same amount of Federal tax for diminished services while California will need to increase its tax rates.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Holy giant text Batman.

[Grey Fox]

Our Quebec economic missions are a great idea. That's how you show independence from the central government when it goes crazy.

[mongers]

Well I certainly won't be consuming any more finished steel products from Pennsylvania or large SUVs from Detroit, though I'll certainly continue to eat Californian almonds, cashews, walnuts and raisins.* 




* Only things Californian products I could think of that I've had.

[viper37]

Holy giant text Batman.

Yeah, I should have pasted in Notepad++ before.  sorry.

[Valmy]

South Carolina tried that in the 1830s California.

At least Newsome is saying something. Trump keeps fucking Texas and our response is to bend over.