RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Officials in Virginia say a trade war with Canada, the European Union and Mexico would be “particularly troubling” for farmers, fishermen and wood growers. At stake are sales of lumber, leaf tobacco, seafood and other goods.
The state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement Friday that the nation should maintain trade agreements with its closest allies — not escalate tensions.
The statement followed Thursday’s decision by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum from Europe, Mexico and Canada. Those countries promised to quickly retaliate against U.S. exports.
Virginia’s farm and forestry exports to Canada and Mexico amounted to about $800 in 2016. That’s 30 percent of the state’s exports.
Last year, Virginia sold about $300 million worth of goods to the European Union.
