Report says nearly $1 billion in Virginia exports threatened by tariffs

Published August 22, 2018 by Robert Powell, III

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that nearly $1 billion in Virginia exports are threatened by retaliatory tariffs.

The organization said Virginia exported goods worth a total of $992.8 million could be affected by a trade war.

Virginia jobs supported by trade total 1.14 million, the chamber said.

The Virginia numbers are included in a state-by-state analysis of the effects of tariffs released on Wednesday by the Chamber.

“The administration’s new tariffs threaten to spark a global trade war,” the organization said in a statement. “Canada, Mexico, the EU and China have already retaliated or announced plans to retaliate with billions of dollars in tariffs on American-made products.”

The chamber said retaliatory tariffs will make goods exported by the U.S. more expensive, resulting in lower sales and lost jobs.

A breakdown of Virginia exports threatened by tariffs include:

• $224.8 million in exports to Canada, including mattresses, condiments and seasonings.
• $670.2 million in exports to China, including soybeans, coal and corrugated paper.
• $23.5 million in exports to the EU, including cast iron articles and make-up powders.
• And $74.4 million in exports to Mexico, including fresh and frozen pork.