California Governor Gavin Newsom yet again distanced the state from President Donald Trump on Friday, urging international trade partners to exclude its products from any retaliatory measures levied against the U.S. as a result of the new tariffs.
Newsom’s administration will now pursue its own “strategic trade relationships” with international trade partners in an effort to protect its “manufacturers, workers, farmers, businesses, and supply chains,” as the people are going to be most negatively affected by the new tariffs, his office says.
“California leads the nation as the #1 state for agriculture and manufacturing — and it’s our workers, families, and farmers who stand to lose the most from this Trump tax hike and trade war,” Newsom said in a statement. “To our international partners: As the fifth largest economy in the world, the Golden State will remain a steady, reliable partner for generations to come, no matter the turbulence coming out of Washington.”
“California is not Washington, D.C.,” he continued.
The governor’s office touted California’s manufacturing prowess and innovation in the tech space.
As part of the new push, Newsom said his administration will find ways to expand job creation in fields that are reliant on international trade — like manufacturing and agriculture — and safeguard crucial supplies likely to be affected by tariffs.
The office said more than 40% of California imports come from Mexico, Canada and China. China was hit with a 34% import tax on “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, which when combined with tariffs already in place, effectively raises their tax to more than 54%.
Canadian and Mexican imports are still taxed at a rate of 25% as of a Trump order last month.
Retaliatory tariffs levied by these countries and others against the U.S. would disproportionally affect California, Newsom’s office says. China already announced a retaliatory 34% tariff to go against the U.S. on April 10.
More than 60,000 small businesses throughout the state export goods, the office claims.
According to the Associated Press, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won California in the 2024 election by about 20 points — or more than 3 million votes — over Trump.
As the most populated state in the U.S., Newsom has made it a priority to “Trump proof” the state, amid speculation that he could be positioning himself for a run for the White House in 2028. Newsom’s term as governor will expire in January 2027, and he is ineligible to run for reelection.
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