Sen. Alexander says tariffs are ‘dangerous’ for Tennessee
WASHINGTON – Sen. Lamar Alexander warned Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on automobiles and auto parts would be devastating for Tennessee’s economy.
“These tariffs are dangerous,” the Tennessee Republican said. “These tariffs are going to cost us jobs.”
Alexander and Sen. Doug Jones, DAla., announced in a speech on the Senate floor that they will file legislation as early next week to encourage the Trump administration to reconsider its proposal to apply tariffs as high as 25 percent on vehicles and components imported into the country.
Alexander called the proposed tariffs “dangerous” because “they are taxes on us, pure and simple.”
“They make what we buy and sell more expensive,” he said, which means fewer cars will be sold and that wages in the auto industry will decline.
Alexander warned that the proposed tariffs are likely to hit Tennessee harder than any other state.
Tennessee’s booming auto sector includes three major assembly plants and more than 900 auto-parts suppliers in 88 of the state’s 95 counties. More than 135,000 Tennesseans — a third of the state’s manufacturing workforce — are employed in the automobile industry.
“Why in the world would our government raise our taxes and destroy our jobs in this way?” Alexander asked.