In the lead-up to the Minnesota primary, tariffs remain a major problem that threaten business owners, farmers, and communities throughout Minnesota and across the United States.
Analysis from Tariffs Hurt the Heartland shows that to date, Minnesota taxpayers have paid $932 million in additional tariffs since the trade war with China began. Beyond this, trade supports 752,100 jobs in the state, and 36,800 jobs could be lost if Minnesota businesses don’t receive the relief they need from the trade war.
This is precisely why Democratic presidential candidates need to show Minnesotans that they are dedicated to helping the state recover from the damage dealt by tariffs and lay out a plan to finally bring the trade war to an end.
As the trade war continues to drag on, it’s becoming more apparent than ever that Americans are the ones paying for tariffs — not China. The Star Tribune recently reported on this, noting that the only certainty business owners can count on with tariffs is the uncertainty they cause. Michael Minsberg, the president and co-owner of Creative Lighting in St. Paul, spoke to this point:
“If relief is on the horizon, it has not gotten to us … Tariffs … are actually a
status quo situation that everyone has gotten used to.”
Minsberg isn’t alone, either. Late last year, NPR shed a spotlight on Dan Digre, the president of Misco Speakers in St. Paul. According to Digre, it’s American businesses like his that are paying for the tariffs:
“It comes out of our bottom line … And that’s the money that we need to be
reinvesting in new technology, in new products — all of the things that makes
your business competitive in a global economy.”
The harm caused by tariffs spreads beyond the small business industry into the agricultural sector as well. Soybean farmers have been at the center of the U.S.-China trade war, and that holds especially true in Minnesota, which is the third-largest producer of soybeans in the U.S. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson has even spoken out on the issue, as reported in MinnPost:
“These tariffs are definitely hurting Minnesota farmers right now … Losing any
market is incredibly painful, and it’s resulted in farm income is at an historic
low.”
While the Phase One Deal serves as a step in the right direction, there is still a lot of work needed in order to finally remove all tariffs that remain in place, and Democratic presidential candidates need to show Minnesotans that it’s work they’re willing to do.
If you are interested in speaking with someone about the trade war and how it is hurting Minnesota residents ahead of the primary, please contact press@americansforfreetrade.com.
Americans for Free Trade