Minnesota U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (D) is speaking out against President Donald Trump's tariffs and the impacts they could have on Minnesota families.
Under the tariffs imposed on goods imported from China and Mexico - including some major brands like Graco which makes car seats, cribs and other essentials - are set to become more expensive in the coming month.
That’s why Rep. Morrison says she and others are leading the charge to exempt essential baby products from the planned tariffs.
"Raising a family is already too expensive," says Morrison. "Families with babies and toddlers already spend around $20,000 in the first year alone, including nearly $1,000 on baby safety gear. Trump's tariffs will only make it worse."
She added that these increased costs will disproportionately affect lower income families.
"These products are essential to care for young children and keep them safe," Morrison says. "They are necessities and in the case of car seats, they are literally required by law. That's why today I'm leading my colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to exempt essential baby products from his tariff wars."
Latest on auto tariffs
President Donald Trump said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains.
“This will continue to spur growth,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “We'll effectively be charging a 25% tariff.”
The tariffs, which the White House expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually, could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world. The tax hike starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales, though Trump argues that the tariffs will lead to more factories opening in the United States and the end of what he judges to be a “ridiculous” supply chain in which auto parts and finished vehicles are manufactured across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
To underscore his seriousness about the tariffs directive he signed, Trump said, “This is permanent.”
The Republican president reiterated his willingness to challenge allies by saying Thursday on social media that if the European Union coordinated with Canada, tariffs “far larger than currently planned” would be placed on them in retaliation.
Stocks tumbling Friday
Another wipeout is slamming Wall Street Friday as worries build about a potentially toxic mix of worsening inflation and a U.S. economy slowing because of households afraid to spend given uncertainty about the global trade war.
The S&P 500 was down 2% in afternoon trading and on track for one of its worst days of the last two years. It’s also heading for its fifth losing week in the last six after wiping out what had earlier been a big winning week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 741 points, or 1.8%, as of 1:25 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.7% lower.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.