Oregon leaders say ‘ham-fisted’ Trump tariffs could ‘put lives at risk’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – President Donald Trump delivered on his promise to impose new tariffs on foreign countries in a televised announcement Wednesday afternoon, and Pacific Northwest leaders are already pushing back.

The tariffs include a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries along with even higher rates on certain countries that have tariffs on goods from the United States — a decision Trump referred to as a “reciprocal tax.”

These higher tariffs include a 34% tax on imports from China, 20% from the European Union, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan and 32% on Taiwan. Trump held a chart with the forthcoming rates during his speech.

Congressional leaders in Oregon say these tariffs could have a devastating impact on the U.S. and state economies. Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-6) said the taxes mean “working Americans will be footing the bill.”

“Whether you’re a winemaker in the Willamette Valley or a busy mom in the Fred Meyer checkout line, working Americans – not foreign countries – will be footing the bill for President Trump’s recklessness,” Salinas said. 

Trump’s announcement moved forward without approval from Congress with the use of the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act, which grants the president the authority to regulate economic transactions after declaring a national emergency. Trump declared an emergency earlier this year.

“Congress must take action to reclaim the ‘power of the purse’ as outlined in the Constitution,” Salinas said. “It is the legislative branch’s job to set tax and trade policies, not the president’s — and we must use every tool at our disposal to protect American workers and families from these disastrous tariffs.”

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-5) said the tariffs have the potential to raise consumer prices while crashing the country’s economy and stock market.

“Our families can’t afford to pay more for groceries, gas, repairs to their cars, or any other everyday item,” Bynum said. “Today’s announcement is yet another reckless decision by a reckless Administration that is making it extremely clear they don’t give a rat’s a** about the American people.”

In Washington state, Sen. Patty Murray said these tariffs could have a devastating impact on the state’s economy, which she noted is one of the most trade-dependent economies in the country with 40% of jobs that are tied to international commerce. 

Murray said Washington could also lose key trading partners, namely Canada, on goods for which the state is the top U.S. producer, including apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries. India has already imposed a 20% tariff on apples, causing shipments to reduce by roughly 99%.

A full statement from Sen. Murray is available below:

“Trump’s ham-fisted, utterly pointless tariffs are a tax that families in Washington state will pay on nearly everything they buy—whether at the grocery store, the car dealership, or your neighborhood coffee shop.

“We have all the data in the world that tells us exactly how these tariffs will hurt American businesses and push up prices—that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Trump and his cabinet are choosing to ignore the mountains of evidence we have that tariffs do not work and push ahead because they simply don’t care. They don’t care if small businesses have to close their doors, if farmers lose access to markets, or if prices go up—because it won’t affect Trump and his cabinet full of billionaires.

“Trump’s trade war is an especially deep cut to farmers, fishers, and producers in Washington state—I’ve talked to so many who are absolutely furious that Trump is putting their livelihoods at risk because he cannot seem to grasp the basic fact that they actually rely on international markets to sell their goods. Trump doesn’t have a clue—and businesses in Washington state are already paying the price for his ignorance.

“Today I will vote for Senator Kaine’s resolution to reverse Trump’s disastrous tariffs on Washington state’s largest trading partner, Canada—Trump’s trade war has already forced businesses in Washington state who rely on imported materials and business from Canada to lay off employees and close their doors, and is upending supply chains across the Pacific Northwest.

“Trump’s refusal to accept basic economic realities or listen to the desperate pleas of American businesses, farmers, and families who can’t afford his costly tariffs is risking serious economic catastrophe and pushing our country toward a Republican recession.”

One local economist added that consumers can get ready for some inflation as a result.

“The idea is to make foreign goods more expensive so that we, see domestically produced goods become more competitive in the market. And so inherently, that means that, that what we pay or sort of the opportunities for finding lower-priced goods are going to be fewer,” said Damon Runberg with Business Oregon.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.