Christine Gemperle grows almonds with her brother on their farm in Turlock. She’s concerned federal tariffs will lead to higher costs that their business can’t weather.
“Will we be able to access what we need to grow our crops? And if so, will we even be able to afford it?” Gemperle said at a press conference held on her family farm with Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“Because seasons determine when crops are planted and harvested, we do not have the luxury to wait years for factories to be built or supply chains to grow,” she said.
California filed its 15th lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday, pushing back on federal tariffs on foreign goods.
Bonta said the state is suing because President Donald Trump doesn’t have the authority to impose tariffs — only Congress does.
“Congress hasn’t authorized these tariffs, much less authorized imposing tariffs only to increase them, then pause them, then imminently reinstate them on a whim,” he said. “Causing our nation and the global economy whiplash.”
California makes up 14% of the country’s gross domestic product, the largest share of any state. Newsom stressed that the state also plays an outsized role in the world economy — including international trade.
“No state is poised to lose more than the state of California,” he said.
California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass said in a statement the organization “believes that trade must be based on principles of fairness to help promote and expand equitable market access with our international partners.
“With many producers already struggling with persistent workforce shortages, inflation, natural disasters and other market challenges, retaliatory tariffs could lead to considerable instability within our industry.”
At the press conference, Bonta also emphasized the impact of tariffs on consumers.
“Trump may claim these tariffs send a message to our international partners, but Americans are the ones shouldering the burden,” he said. “The message Americans are receiving is that your costs are going up.”
Bonta said the tariffs would cost the average American family $2,100 annually.
The Trump administration has defended the tariffs, saying they are legal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.
The state’s lawsuit argues that federal law does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. It also says Trump’s new tariffs jeopardize the economy.
Newsom asked California’s global trade partners earlier this month to exempt the state from retaliatory tariffs in response to President Trump’s moves.
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