McCaskill Statement on Additional $200 Billion in Proposed Tariffs

Press Release

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who has been standing up for Missourians harmed by the ongoing trade war, issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration announcing a $200 billion escalation in tariffs on Chinese goods--which will likely lead to additional retaliatory tariffs on Missouri exports:

"This trade war is already costing Missourians jobs and it needs to end. This dramatic escalation will only hurt more Missourians and bring greater uncertainty to those who need it most--our farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers."

McCaskill has been a strong advocate on behalf of Missouri businesses and workers in the face of the ongoing trade war. Following China's implementation of retaliatory tariffs last week that harm Missouri agriculture exports, including soybeans and pork, McCaskill called on the Administration to end the trade war that "shuts our farmers and ranchers out of critical markets."

Missouri businesses have already laid off workers due to the effects of the trade war and the President's tariffs. McCaskill recently toured Mid Continent Nail Corporation in Poplar Bluff--the largest U.S. producer of steel nails--which was forced to lay off 60 workers (a more than 10 percent reduction of its workforce) last month because of soaring costs and canceled sales resulting from tariffs that the Administration placed on the wire that the company uses to produce nails.

As product-based exemptions from steel and aluminum tariffs are stuck in a backlog and country-based exemptions from the largest suppliers of steel and aluminum imports received only temporary extensions, McCaskill advocated on behalf of Missouri small businesses facing large financial burdens from the tariffs by calling on Secretary Ross and the Administration to help small businesses navigate the tariff exemption process to give them much-needed certainty and transparency.

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