CAC’s Alt on Impact of Trump’s Trade Turmoil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2025
Contact: Gabrielle Levy, Glevy@cacampaign.org, (562) 673-697

Climate Action Campaign’s Margie Alt on Impact of Trump’s Trade Turmoil

WASHINGTON – President Trump’s decision to impose – then partially pause – tariffs on goods imported from U.S. global trading partners is expected to have a chilling effect on many U.S. industries and lead to increased costs for U.S. consumers. The following statement is from Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign:

“Despite ”day one” pledges on the campaign trail to lower prices for American consumers, President Trump’s knee-jerk trade war with our largest trading partners will do nothing to drive down costs for consumers or drive down the cost of energy and in fact are likely to increase prices. Solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources are among our cheapest sources of electricity.  While a significant percentage of the components used for clean energy technologies are produced domestically, parts from Canada, Mexico, and China are required in some instances, particularly for batteries that support energy storage and electric vehicles. 

“Though Trump has, for now,  hit pause on implementing the tariffs with Mexico and Canada, his chaotic first three weeks in office create the kind of uncertainty that is bad for business, bad for consumers, and bad for American workers. Tariffs on goods from these countries – and the uncertainty over whether they will actually be implemented – will only serve to jack up energy and car prices for American families, and could destroy thousands of jobs in the auto and clean energy industries.”