Good morning –
As we prepare for the South Carolina primary, it is important to keep in mind the detrimental effects that tariffs have had both on South Carolinians and hardworking Americans across the country.
As data from Tariffs Hurt the Heartland reveals, South Carolina taxpayers have paid $836 million in additional tariffs since the trade war with China first began.
Democratic presidential candidates cannot ignore the negative impact that the trade war has had on South Carolina’s economy. Trade supports 550,700 jobs in the state, and 31,500 jobs could be lost if tariffs continue.
Tariffs are taxes paid for by South Carolina families, farmers, businesses, and communities, and industries across the entire state are bearing the costs. For example, Statehouse Report notes that corn, soybeans, and cotton – which are the three crops most affected by the U.S.-China tariffs – occupy more than 1.3 million acres in the state and account for a half billion dollars of the agricultural products grown in South Carolina. Without tariff relief, farmers will continue to lose money from some of South Carolina’s most important crops.
Manufacturing has suffered from tariffs as well. In August, The State reported on manufacturing closures in South Carolina, with Russ Gibson, head of operations for Anachroma U.S., Inc.’s plant in Martin, S.C., saying this:
“For us, (the trade war is) hurting the U.S. manufacturing industry … This is an unintended consequence of the tariffs. It’s causing people their livelihood in the last 24 hours, and will continue if we do not see immediate action.”
Despite the recent Phase One Trade Agreement between the U.S. and China, problems still persist. China has been the state’s largest export market since 2013, making trade with China is a vital part of South Carolina’s economy. As Greenville Mayor Knox White told the South China Morning Post, it can be hard to recover once the initial tariff damage sets in:
“The disruption of those relationships and how far-reaching that will be, whether they can be repaired and how long it would take to repair them, those are consequences we will be living with no matter if everything was over with tomorrow … People move on.”
It’s time for every candidate to commit to removing all tariffs that remain in place and finally bring an end to the trade war that is devastating the economy.
If you are interested in speaking with someone about the trade war and how it is hurting South Carolina residents ahead of the primary, please contact press@americansforfreetrade.com.