Texas could be hit harder than any other state by these kinds of tariffs. Trump’s trade policies will devastate our state, businesses, & economy. Senator Cruz should have explained that to the president while they were riding together last month.
You could start with the fact that Texas is home to the San Antonio-based Toyota manufacturing plant and the company’s new North America HQ in Plano. No automaker will be hit harder by these tariffs. Prices of cars will have to go up.
Could point out that Texas imports more steel and aluminum than any other state in the U.S. That we rely upon those metals for a booming energy sector. That these new tariffs will cause layoffs.
Could talk about agriculture. How Texas is a top producer of cotton, wheat, corn, beef, sorghum -- all of which are targeted by tariffs. One Texan said, “you couldn’t have picked a list of commodities that were more representative of our growers.”
Those in the Lubbock region know this better than anyone: our share of US-produced cotton actually makes up nearly half of exports to China, valuing $450M annually. It’s our state’s number two commodity behind beef cattle.
Could explain what sorghum is. That Texas produces more of it than any other state besides Kansas. That China accounts for more than 70% of US sorghum exports and our share of exported sorghum is 25% of the country’s, accounting for $209 million annually.
Or talk about how the Pecan Capital of the World is right here in Texas. And that our state is the second largest producer of pecans nationwide. Tariffs hitting pecan growers in San Saba and grapefruit growers in the Rio Grande Valley don’t help our state either.
In particular, these tariffs and trade wars threaten our small and medium-sized businesses, which make up more than 90% of all Texas exporters. Their customers abroad support more than 3 million jobs across Texas.
It comes down to the fact that TX is among the nation’s most active states for trade. We rank first in exports. $97 billion in exports to Mexico alone. Our communities depend on it -- from agricultural centers to Houston where exports account for nearly one-fifth of the economy.
We need a senator who is not afraid to raise these issues with the president. Someone who will stand up to him when he is going to hurt Texas jobs and economic growth. Who will be a voice for the 28 million of us who call Texas home. That’s what I want to do.
