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CA Gov Newsom Asks Other Countries To Not Impose Tariffs On Goods From CA

Do you think that other countries would actually consider exempting California goods from Tariffs?

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SkyChief

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Earlier today, California governor Gavin Newsom distanced himself from Trump and asked other countries to exempt California goods from Tariffs.

“To our international partners: As the fifth largest economy in the world, the Golden State will remain a steady, reliable partner for generations to come, no matter the turbulence coming out of Washington.”

California is "ready to talk" with global trading partners, Newsom wrote on X.

WH spokesperson Kush Desai scolded Governor Newsom:

“Gavin Newsom should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in California instead of trying his hand at international dealmaking.”
Personally, I think this tariff exemption plea is a political stunt.
 

I dont know the legal angles but CA has a good-sized economy.
 
Newsom can screw himself. The intention of tariffs is to punish America - all of it.

Canadian steel, aluminum and cars bound for California are tariffed at 25%. He can expect the same in kind.

What an idiot.
 
CA's economy ranks fifth in the world compared to countries. What is idiotic for Ohio is not necessarily idiotic for him.
 
I think this is one of those "doesn't hurt to try" situations that probably won't go anywhere. There's nothing stopping California from asking a foreign government to treat its exports favorably. However, states are very limited in terms of what carrots or appetizers they can offer to incentivize such behavior without running afoul of the federal apparatus and the Constitution. California can offer tax credits for foreign businesses operating locally, it can setup trade missions, it can enter into non-economic cooperative partnerships and perhaps enough of those add up to a reciprocal benefit coming to it. But, it feels like a moonshot.

That said, I support the effort to try. At the federal level, the checks and balances system has for all practical purposes fallen apart. Congress has ceded its full authority to Trump who (a) controls the entirety of federal apparatus and (b) simply ignores courts including SCOTUS since they have no enforcement arm to force his compliance and for him the Constitution is just an inconvenient piece of paper. As a result, as of April 2025, the only authority able to push back on Trump are state governments with their own independent governments, treasuries and armed forces.
 

It is to try and protect our exports, like agricultural products and electronics. As a Californian, why wouldn't you want him to do this, SkyChief? Why would you want other countries not to buy Californian products? Because to be clear, the farmers in the Central Valley are your ideological bedfellows, just as far-right conservative/libertarian as you are.
 
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And it would infuriate mango MAGAt magnet and probably set off another round of outraged retribution from the WH.

I am all for resistance.
 
Felis Leo said:
It is to try and protect our exports, like agricultural products and electronics. As a Californian, why wouldn't you want him to do this, SkyChief? Why would you want other countries not to buy Californian products?
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I'm guessing it's no more complicated than that far right propaganda outlets have ragged on CA to the extent that ranting about CA is as much a passtime for MAGAs as it is for a local sports team fan group to rant about some regular opponent team.
 
Felis Leo said:
It is to try and protect our exports, like agricultural products and electronics. As a Californian, why wouldn't you want him to do this, SkyChief? Why would you want other countries not to buy Californian products?
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I think this is one of those situations where a MAGA is loyal first and foremost to Donald, and therefore the good of Donald is far more important than the good of their own state. I imagine that if there were a prioritized loyalty list for them, it would look something like:

1. Loyalty to Donald John Trump
2. Loyalty to Donald John Trump's family members (except Tiffany)
3. Loyalty to Donald John Trump's cabinet
4. Loyalty to fellow MAGA
5. Loyalty to the MAGA's immediate family
6. Loyalty to the United States
7. Loyalty to the MAGA's friends
8. Loyalty to the MAGA's local community
9. Loyalty to the MAGA's state

Given this, loyalty to and hopes for the good of one's state will be very, very low on the list of priorities for a typical MAGA.
 
BirdinHand said:
If nothing else, Newsom is sending the message to the world that "hey, this is all TRUMP...his actions ALONE...not all Americans agree with him"

It is an important message.
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I doubt the world cares about America's dysfunctional internal disputes any more than they care about Newsom's proclamation of innocence.
 
Allan said:
Newsom can screw himself. The intention of tariffs is to punish America - all of it.

Canadian steel, aluminum and cars bound for California are tariffed at 25%. He can expect the same in kind.

What an idiot.
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It's only fair. One of our biggest exporters from California is agriculture. Guess who your average Central Valley Farmer voted for last November?
 

I would add, this will mainly devastate one of California's biggest Republican voting blocs, i.e., Central Valley farmers.
 
Felis Leo said:
It is to try and protect our exports, like agricultural products and electronics. As a Californian, why wouldn't you want him to do this, SkyChief?
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It's a political stunt, IMO, but it might be favorable to some people - even if no countries agree to exempt California goods. However, if some countries DO agree to exempt California from tariffs, then it ceases to be a political stunt and becomes a significant executive Trade achievement that would (partially) offset Newsoms long list of executive failures.

Felis Leo said:
Why would you want other countries not to buy Californian products?
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I never said (or even implied) that I would "want other countries not to buy Californian products." Nice try.
Felis Leo said:
Because to be clear, the farmers in the Central Valley are your ideological bedfellows, just as far-right conservative/libertarian as you are.
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LOL I agree that Californians would benefit greatly if some other countries went along with Newsom's plan for California to be exempt from tariffs. Who knows? maybe there will be some takers. I doubt it though.
 
It's a stunt, but I could see a few other countries exempting California-made products. Which would drive "last nail" manufacturing into California. Manufacturers would build 99% of a product in other states, then ship it to California for that last nail to get the tariff exemption.
 
Great, more business for California. The stuff already made here will continue to export at the same levels as before, and businesses in other states will begin exploring the options to relocate some or all of their production to California.
 

Newsome has been losing ground with his own Party faithful.

Residents of California seem to be coming round to the idea he is pretty bad, and recent events in California (fires, mismanagement of taxes, the money-pit of a high-speed train to nowhere, poor water management, etc.) have highlighted many problems.
 
Worth a shot. The malignant narcissist scumbag piece of shit liar grifter rapist seditionist felon serial adulterer and tax cheat administration is now toxic. Someone in the administration was begging other countries ot to retaliate.
 
Felis Leo said:
I would add, this will mainly devastate one of California's biggest Republican voting blocs, i.e., Central Valley farmers.
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Arent they very heavily dependent on illegal labor?
 
Felis Leo said:
I would add, this will mainly devastate one of California's biggest Republican voting blocs, i.e., Central Valley farmers.
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California wine exports to Canada are 1.1 billion annually. Gone, overnight.

Not from tariffs but a nationwide ban by Provincial government liquor boards.
 
Smart attempt on Newsoms part.
Some countries may go along with him.
 
Allan said:
My favorite wine is was Robert Mondavi Vint
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Fortunately Napa and Sonoma are a pleasant ~90 minute drive away so I'll still partake when I can. Perhaps all this tariff stuff causes prices to drop a bit for us locals. That said it's unfortunate that Donald created this mess because... well nobody actually knows why he did this, other than maybe he had a temper tantrum or Stephen Miller told him to.

I will miss Canadian ice wine, great stuff, probably will become scarce and/or expensive here.
 
Allan said:
Newsom can screw himself. The intention of tariffs is to punish America - all of it.

Canadian steel, aluminum and cars bound for California are tariffed at 25%. He can expect the same in kind.

What an idiot.
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Its a Hail Mary pass that does no harm whatsoever. I don't know what else blue states can do, so he's trying to distance himself and his state.
 
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