Beshear Slams Trump's Tariffs as 'Pain' for Kentucky Families
Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky has urged President Donald Trump to rescind his tariff and trade policies, which he believes are increasing costs for American families and hurting key Kentucky industries.
In a letter sent to Trump on Wednesday, Beshear cited recent retaliatory tariffs announced by Canada and warned of their impact on the state's economy. He also pointed out that American consumers are bearing the cost of the tariffs through higher prices at the grocery store, gas pump, and utility bills.
The policies are affecting Kentucky's bourbon, coal, and agriculture industries. According to Beshear's office, spirits exports to Canada have fallen by 85%, while exports have also declined to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan. This has resulted in production slowdowns and a record backlog of 16 million barrels of bourbon.
Beshear estimates that Americans could pay more than $330 billion in tariff costs this year, which amounts to over $2,500 per family.