The American state of California will seek agreements with individual partner countries to be exempt from the effect of future retaliatory tariffs against the United States, announced the state's governor, Gavin Newsom.
"Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent the will of all Americans. On behalf of 40 million Californians, I declare that our goal is to maintain stable trade relations. California is a state defined as a pillar of the American economy, contributing 14% of GDP, the 5th economy in the world, the dominant in manufacturing. "I have already directed the administration to consider new trade opportunities and ways to send a signal to our partners around the world that California remains a predictable partner," Newsom said.
He has been described by US media as having presidential ambitions, but he did not specify in his speech how the new agreements could circumvent the protectionist policies initiated by US President Donald Trump. As part of his address, Governor Newsom addressed "his long-standing trading partners with a request to exempt products made in California from any retaliatory measures."