In early April, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on all international imports, a move that was met with immediate backlash, including from Washington's congressional delegation. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and a bipartisan group have proposed legislation to prevent similar tariffs in the future, citing potential negative impacts on the economy, particularly for Washington, a leading exporter in the U.S.
At a town hall in Yakima, former Gov. Jay Inslee highlighted the adverse effects of previous tariffs on Washington's export volume, specifically mentioning the state's apple market in India, which suffered due to retaliatory tariffs. By the time the tariff was lifted in 2023, the market had drastically declined from $120 million in 2019 to under $3 million in 2022. Inslee emphasized the need for open markets for Washington's products.
Washington State Department of Agriculture's Rianne Ham noted that retaliatory tariffs from China had previously weakened Washington's sweet cherry market. Before Trump's tariffs, China was a major export market for cherries from the Northwest. The tariffs led to a 50% tariff on U.S. products, including cherries, significantly reducing export volumes and impacting growers' earnings.
Jeff Luckstead from Washington State University explained that when export markets close, growers must find new markets or sell domestically, leading to lower prices and reduced income. He also mentioned the potential for retaliatory tariffs, which could further impact export-heavy industries like agriculture.
Debra Glassman from the University of Washington noted that Trump's tariffs are unusual due to their widespread impact, affecting countries with historically strong trade relationships with the U.S. Ham emphasized that growing anti-American sentiment could harm trade relationships, which require trust and cooperation.
Mark Powers of the Northwest Horticultural Council expressed hope that Trump's tariffs might lead to negotiations that remove trade barriers. However, he acknowledged the negative effects of current tariffs on Washington's fruit market and the challenges faced by growers in accessing international markets. Powers called for fair treatment in trade agreements, similar to the access foreign countries have to the U.S. market.
Source: Cascade PBS
