Gov. Gavin Newsom said California will look for new trade opportunities.

In a post on X, Newsom addressed the U.S.'s global trading partners, writing “California is here and ready to talk.”

It comes after a Fox News report revealed that Newsom is directing his state to pursue “strategic” relationships with countries announcing retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., urging them to exclude California-made products from those taxes.

  • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
    32·
    21 days ago

    Can they even do this? What leverage does CA have here? Presumably any goods imported into the state would be subject to US tariffs because those are imposed at the Federal level, so it’s not like Newsom can offer to exempt other countries imports from tariffs if they’re bound for California.

    Well, OK, in one sense he could, but he’d literally have to direct officials in California to defy US federal law, and possibly get into direct conflict with Federal agents operating in the state, right?

    Assuming he’s not going to do that, how does this play work? What does he offer in return for other countries exempting CA from their counter tariffs?

    Also, how is this not a stepping stone towards an independent California? (I strongly suspect the answer to that last question is “it is, end of answer”)

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
      32·
      21 days ago

      Off the top of my head,

      • Yes, this is an explicit step away from the authority of the federal government

      • It is FAR from California’s first step (recognizing gay marriage; sanctuary state; legal weed; etc)

      • It is not a complete defiance of federal law per se. I suspect that the way California is going to try to negotiate will be by offering breaks on its own state and local taxes. California has a decent slew of state level taxes on many things. The state may be willing to reduce its own state taxes to offset the federal taxes as part of a separate deal with foreign nations.

      • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
        14·
        21 days ago

        Well they may not have to defy federal law. Could be a good faith deal. Where if California imports something the tariffs are still paid by the ordering companies, but California gives some kind of kick back or assurance that they will remain a better trading partner for a lesser retaliatory tariff. If say China says no tariffs on California, it would make many companies flock to doing all business that ships to China go through California. Making their industry possibly not hurt as bad, or even thrive.

        If states start to see they are hurting much more than California, more states may flock to the ideals that are proping up said trade.

        It’s all very big IF’s

    • thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe
      11·
      21 days ago

      Refusing to levy the federal tariff and daring Trump to do something about it as the only way this could work I could think of too. That could go pear shaped very fast

    • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 @pawb.socialEnglish
      11·
      21 days ago

      What leverage does California have?

      Half of all fruits and vegetables grown in the country come from California. Something like 99% of all almonds are grown here, too.

      We are the land of fruits and nuts. 🤪