Eastern Kentucky residents have a multitude of opinions when it comes to proposed tariffs from the Trump administration.
Tariffs are taxes a government can impose on both imported or exported goods. It’s still uncertain what the new government will end up implementing, but Trump has proposed a blanket of up to 20% on imported goods, and a 60% tariff on goods from China.
That could encourage more local production from manufacturers. But it also means higher prices on foreign products for both businesses and everyday people.
It’s been a while since tariffs have been at the forefront of American politics. Some, like Madison County resident Elizabeth Hyreman, say the concept isn’t something that comes up often.
“I think I last heard this in like, sixth grade American history, like Revolutionary War-era stuff. But all of a sudden now, yeah, now it's in the news again,” Hyreman said.
Others have complicated opinions on tariffs. That includes Kristina Deeg, a resident of Estill County.
“I don't like the fact that everything's made in China. But I also don't think things are going to get switched around quickly enough with taxes. I think that it might help us in the long run, but it's definitely going to punch us in the beginning,” Deeg said.
Deeg says she and her husband try to be as self-sustaining as possible. They try to keep their cost-of-living low by buying in bulk.
“Most of our rice is from India. I bought that in bulk, just in case it goes up. I’ve been thinking of flour, we have a lot, enough for a year, just in case that goes up,” Deeg said.
Others say they think tariffs would help promote the local economy. Camille, who didn’t feel comfortable giving her full name, works in Powell County.
“I think it would encourage people to shop locally. I personally support local farming and stuff. So I think that would be good for people down here to grow their own food. It'll encourage people to go to the farmer’s market more,” she said.
Alan Cornette is a 90-year-old, longtime resident of Powell County. He says he’s skeptical about how tariffs would affect our relationship with other countries, and would add to the inflation of prices after COVID.
“We have to have each other, we still have to trade with China, even Russia, maybe,” Cornette said. “When you raise the tariffs, that gets passed down to the people, and that means that in the next three or four years, if Trump raises the tariffs, it will create some change. We need change, of course, but that would also cause chaos in the streets, maybe.”
He says living in a rural area helps with expenses.
“Locally, it's about like everywhere else, inflation just keeps creeping in and creeping up. I concentrated on simplicity. I didn't have too much when I left Lexington, I decided I needed a little tin roof house, and that's all I needed,” Cornette said.
Others, like Suzy Brown, say a healthy trading relationship is necessary for certain goods.
“There's just certain things, for instance, in agriculture, that our climate isn't conducive for. So I think we're going to depend on Mexico for certain products. I think we're going to depend on Canada for certain products,” Brown said.
CNN reported earlier this month Trump is considering a national economic emergency declaration. Invoking the International Economic Emergency Powers Act would allow the President-elect to manage imports directly.
CNN says the incoming administration has not made a final decision on whether an emergency would be declared.
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