Washington, DC — On April 2, President Donald Trump announced an across-the-board 10% new baseline tariff rate on imports as well as additional reciprocal tariffs on imports from dozens of trading partners. President Trump partially reversed this decision on Wednesday, limiting tariffs to 10% on all nations, except for China which now has a tariff of 145%. The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and its members have voiced their concerns about the economic impact new tariffs will have on local communities – raising costs and slowing economic growth. Last month, mayors from across the U.S., Mexico and Canada gathered in Washington, DC, to highlight the value of fair trade and the costs of tariffs. Mayors continue to urge the federal government to remove barriers to trade and prioritize economic policies that support consumers, families and businesses.
Mayors across the country are warning that tariffs could deal a severe blow to local economies, triggering sharp setbacks in their communities. Here’s a snapshot of what some mayors are saying:
USCM President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther
“When tariffs go up, prices go up and businesses stop growing, which puts more pressure on the cost of living for our residents. America’s mayors are calling for trade policy that protects our businesses, workers and families.” (Source)
Arlington (TX) Mayor Jim Ross
“The bottom line is consumers are going to be paying for tariffs. And if consumers are paying for tariffs and they can no longer afford vehicles, that means a decrease in the amount of production at our assembly plant. And that is where we’re concerned about it being a job-killing threat.” (Source)
Cedar Rapids (IA) Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell
“Restrictions on imports would harm local jobs and manufacturers, putting billions of dollars in economic activity at risk. To protect Cedar Rapids’ economy and American manufacturing jobs, we need a steady supply of these food ingredients.” (Source)
Cleveland (OH) Mayor Justin Bibb
“We have an erratic tariff policy meant to sow chaos and confusion. And that’s not guided by common sense. It’s having a devastating impact in cities like Cleveland, across the country…We can have the right approach as a country to ensure our global trading partners work with us, support our global economic agenda. But an erratic tariff policy guided by no common sense is not helping the American people.” (Source)
Columbia (SC) Mayor Daniel Rickenmann
“On top of rebuilding Western North Carolina and [recovering from] wildfires in our state, we rely on building materials to rebuild communities. These projects are now being halted because of the tariffs. That’s affecting our subcontractors, who are all local. This could be a $3 billion per year cost to us.” (Source)
Lansing (MI) Mayor Andy Schor
“If people aren’t buying cars, we’re not making them. And that’s going to force layoffs and effect our economy. That’s a huge issue. When our residents make $48,000 a year, they can’t afford $10,000 more for a new car.” (Source)
Rochester (NY) Mayor Malik Evans
“We don’t need tariffs that raise the costs for low- and middle-income consumers and destabilize the economy for our employers. We need thoughtful and sustainable trade policies that protect the most vulnerable residents and support job creators.” (Source)
Rochester Hills (MI) Mayor Bryan Barnett
“It would really be a perfect storm. In southeast Michigan our biggest trading partners are Canada and Mexico, and our biggest industry is the mobility industry. So much of what we do in southeast Michigan is tied to that industry and every vehicle has parts made in Canada and Mexico. It would be devastating. And part of it is the uncertainty. There’s so much uncertainty … Industries are really paralyzed in determining how to move forward.” (Source)
San Antonio (TX) Mayor Ron Nirenberg
“Nearly every product that you have in your home is in one way, shape, or form part of a global economy. And unnecessary tariffs, and these kinds of escalations, only are going to cost families more money.” (Source)
Sterling Heights (MI) Mayor Michael Taylor
“Massive layoffs. Huge price increases. Complete disruption to the automotive industry. Sterling Heights is a blue-collar town – 40% of our employment is in the auto sector – so we anticipate that there will be layoffs. There are dozens if not hundreds of auto suppliers in Sterling Heights – some of them Canadian-owned companies – those could be hit very hard. We’re expecting layoffs, plant closures and price increases.” (Source)
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
“When our residents are impacted, the city is impacted. If people lose jobs, if there is not as much investment income, all of those things impact revenue to the city, it’s a cascading effect on other investments as well.” (Source)