The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not happy. The world’s largest business organization recently published a state-by-state report on the economic impact of President Trump’s new tariffs, finding that $750 million in exports and nearly 1.3 million jobs are at risk. Approximately 46% of that $750 million in exports from our state goes to the most notorious enemy of America – Canada. The idea that these tariffs are of national economic interest is laughable. Per the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
“Tariffs imposed by the United States are nothing more than a tax increase on American consumers and businesses, including manufacturers, farmers, and technology companies, who will all pay more for commonly used products and materials. Retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries on U.S. exports will make American-made goods more expensive, resulting in lost sales and ultimately lost jobs here at home. This is the wrong approach, and it threatens to derail our nation’s recent economic resurgence.”
The key phrase in that paragraph is “lost jobs at home.” For now, President Trump enjoys a weak approval rating of 42% nationwide, but a much healthier 87% among Republicans. There is little reason to believe the views of his presidency are much different in Georgia. However, if goods get more expensive, people begin losing their jobs, and businesses begin to shutter or move, how long will those people continue to support the president? The effects of these tariffs are not theoretical either – gas prices are at a four-year high for the Independence Day holidays, and the oil industry warned that Trump’s tariffs would have precisely that effect. These things hit voters where it hurts – their wallets.
The silence from Georgia’s federal lawmakers is deafening. Congress has the power to pass legislation to weaken or stop these tariffs, yet no bills have been presented from our representatives or senators to do so. That is no accident. Even the most “disloyal” Republican federal lawmaker from Georgia, Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-11), has voted in alignment with Trump’s position 88% of the time.
Trump is threatening Georgian jobs and businesses. For a state that prides itself on being the best in the nation to do business, it is shocking that no one who represents us has stood up to this threat. It will be fascinating to see if voters on either side of the aisle are inclined to reward Republicans on the ballot with another term in November.
Tharon Johnson is a consultant with Paramount Consulting Group and a Democrat strategist.
