The Trump administration just announced they were imposing new tariffs on China. The new tariffs will affect almost 6,000 items, including handbags, rice and textiles. The tariff will begin on September 24 at 10 percent of up to $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, and will increase to 25 percent in the new year.
After the first round of tariffs, Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber told the AJC, “Georgia businesses and their employees depend on imports and exports to keep our economy growing. Tariffs have a negative impact on businesses of all sizes.”
Trump’s position on trade and his administration’s implementation of tariffs show that the current conservative administration doesn’t have Georgia businesses’ best interest in mind. Kemp has said he supports whatever decisions Trump makes on trade, consistent with Kemp’s lack of real, substantive policies or even unique thoughts. But Trump’s policies hurt Georgia businesses, their employees and consumers.
Jason O’Rouke of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce expressed concern to WSAV, “We’re still really concerned that this is just the next step in an escalating trade war.” He elaborated, “I think what’s important to remember is that tariffs are taxes and so when you increase taxes on things like consumer goods, Fitbits, televisions, computers, automobiles, all those kinds of things that regular, everyday consumers are buying – it’s very easy to see the direct impact of the tariff on the consumer.”
If the Trump administration continues to escalate a trade war with China, Georgia will feel crippling effects because China is the third largest export market as well as the largest import market for Georgia. Georgia will likely see devastating revenue loss for business and agriculture and could potentially see job losses as well.
Republicans claim to be “pro-business” but Georgia republicans like Kemp are actively supporting policies that are hurting Georgia businesses. Unlike Kemp, Stacey Abrams wants to support Georgia businesses, agriculture, employees and consumers by standing up to Trump’s trade policies.