Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she is concerned about President Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on all imports from Mexico and will discuss that when he visits Iowa next week.
Trump said all goods coming into the United States from Mexico will be hit with new tariffs next week unless Mexico stops the flow of migrants crossing the southern border.
Reynolds said she will tell Trump it is “critical” to focus instead on ratifying a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, Iowa’s top export markets.
“Tariffs right now potentially disrupt us getting the USMCA ratified,” Reynolds said. “So I really believe that’s where the focus needs to be, and I’m just concerned about when [Trump] implements things like that, the impact that it has on our ability to get that done.”
She said Congress should act to ratify the trade agreements, and Trump “needs to be a part of it.”
“Our farmers and our manufacturers need some predictability and stability, and ratifying USMCA is a great step forward,” Reynolds said.
Trump has said he is still open to negotiating with Mexican officials about his proposed tariffs.
She said she will thank Trump for approving an expansion of access to gasoline with a higher percentage of ethanol. Trump is expected to tout the policy in Council Bluffs on June 11 and attend a Republican Party fundraiser.
Reynolds also said she is grateful for Congress approving a $19 billion disaster aid package that includes money for Iowa communities affected by flooding.
“This is a good start, but I think as you continue to see catastrophic disasters happening all over the country, we’re going to need more and other areas are going to need more, too,” Reynolds said.
She added she will ask President Trump to re-open the presidential disaster declaration for Iowa to include more counties.
