Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Newsom Wants to Bypass Trump Tariffs With Direct CA Trade Deals
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 2 months ago on
April 4, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom directed his administration to look into making direct trade deals with other countries in hopes to bypass retaliatory tariffs. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday asked exporting countries worldwide to spare California their retaliatory tariffs, saying he plans to pursue direct relationships with foreign trading partners.

“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,” Newsom said in a news release. “No matter the turbulence coming out of Washington. California is not Washington D.C.”

Unclear How Newsom Can Bypass Federal Trade Commission

Newsom did not specify in his late Friday release how he could bypass President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies.

He said he would direct his administration to identify “collaborative opportunities with trading partners that protect California’s economic interests — workers, manufacturers, and businesses — and the broader supply chains linked to the state’s economy.”

California’s three major container ports in Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach carry about half of the nation’s total container cargo volume, according to the Port of Oakland. About 74% of Oakland’s trade comes from Asia.

Newsom’s release stated rebuilding after the L.A. fires would be much more difficult as securing construction materials would be impacted by Trump’s tariffs.

Trump’s tariff actions, which took effect Wednesday, seek parity with other countries’ duties on American goods.

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol imposed a baseline 10% tax on imports, with a 34% tax on Chinese goods, a 20% tax on European Union goods, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan, and 32% on Taiwan, according to the Associated Press.

Economists expect other countries to follow suit with tariffs of their own.

Mexico, Canada, and China buy nearly $67 billion in California exports, according to Newsom’s office.

The Budget Lab at Yale University estimates a 20% universal tariff would cost the average household an additional $3,400 to $4,200 a year.

“Retaliatory tariffs also impact farmers and ranchers during a difficult time in the U.S. farm economy — fostering a greater need for mitigation and expanding foreign market share,” the release stated.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

DON'T MISS

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

DON'T MISS

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

DON'T MISS

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

DON'T MISS

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

DON'T MISS

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

DON'T MISS

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

DON'T MISS

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

DON'T MISS

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

UP NEXT

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

UP NEXT

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

UP NEXT

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

UP NEXT

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

UP NEXT

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

UP NEXT

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

UP NEXT

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

16 hours ago

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

16 hours ago

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

17 hours ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

18 hours ago

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

18 hours ago

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

18 hours ago

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

18 hours ago

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

19 hours ago

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

19 hours ago

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

19 hours ago

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

Brittany Coleman’s son Kaden had just turned 10 when youth football coaches started pressing envelopes with thousands of dollars into ...

1 hour ago

2 hours ago

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

3 hours ago

Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back Rules Projected to Save Billions of Dollars and Thousands of Lives

3 hours ago

Valley Foster Care Agencies Are Facing an Insurance Crisis and Possible Closure

16 hours ago

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

17 hours ago

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

18 hours ago

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

19 hours ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

19 hours ago

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend