California Governor Seeks Tariff Exemption for the State in Trump's Trade War

ChainCatcher news, according to Axios, California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on Friday that he is negotiating agreements with other countries to ensure that California is exempt from retaliatory tariffs amid Trump's escalating trade war.

Seen as a potential candidate for the 2028 U.S. presidential election, Newsom is seeking to shield California from the negative impacts of the trade war.

"Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans. I have instructed the California government to seek new opportunities for trade and remind global trading partners that California remains a stable partner," Newsom said in a video released on Friday.

He referred to California as "the backbone of the American economy" and emphasized the state's commitment to maintaining "stable trade relations" with the world.

Newsom wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that California "is ready to engage in dialogue with global trading partners." He also stated that California is not afraid to leverage its market influence "to counter the largest tax increases our generation faces."