In 2025, Raffensperger praised Trump’s tariffs for accelerating the “reindustrialization of America,” dooming Georgia’s ranking as 7th in the nation for net exports and harming the state’s key industries of agriculture, automotive manufacturing, construction, and port logistics.
Rather than speaking out against the devastating tariffs, Raffensperger asserted that Georgia business owners would “somehow make it work,” even while two-thirds of Georgians believed the tariffs would cause their everyday costs to increase.
2025: Raffensperger Pointed To Steel Importers Who Wondered, “What Do These Tariffs Do” To My Business, And Claimed That They Would “Figure It Out And Somehow Make It Work Through This Situation.” According to Raffensperger at the Networking at Lunch Chamber Luncheon, “Particularly, I talked to some folks back there are importing steel right now, I think they get 15% foreign steel, 85% of American steel. And that's just because the American mills have never produced enough. That may change. But right now, they're thinking, what do these tariffs do to them? They'll figure it out and somehow make it work through this situation.” [Raffensperger Networking at Lunch Chamber Luncheon, 5/1/25] (AUDIO)
2025: Raffensperger Claimed To Sympathize With Business Owners Struggling Under Tariffs, Offering Them “A Big Shoulder To Cry On,” But Then Declared That Tariffs Were Working And Had “Accelerated” The “Reindustrialization Of America.” According to Raffensperger at the Hoschton Business Meeting, “We are borrowing out of our line of credit what was I supposed to do. I couldn't put product on the job site. We were upside down before you know it. Talk ugly it wasn’t fun. And if any of you are facing the tariff situation. I really can't help you, but I have a big shoulder that you can come cry on it. I've been there before, and you just kind of got to you’ve got to switch down and somehow you work through it. [...] She was willing to actually go get a second job, because that's what it took to put more food on the table for a family or to provide for herself. One good paying job can cure all that. And so, here's some breaking news. Just kind of look at what Washington’s having right now. I want to let you know that we're going to have something that really should excite, all of you. People are calling it the reindustrialization of America and started, and it was going to start anyway. But it's gotten accelerated by President Trump because this whole tariff situation already, which you’ve seen.” [Raffensperger Hoschton Business Meeting, 7/23/25] (AUDIO)
2024: The Georgia Chamber Of Commerce Reported That Georgia Was “Especially Vulnerable” To Trump’s Tariffs Because The State Ranked 7th Nationally For Net Exports, Exporting $53.1 Billion In Goods And Importing $145.6 Billion. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, “With a robust global trade profile, Georgia is especially vulnerable to the fallout, according to a report from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In 2024, the state set records with $53.1 billion in exports and $145.6 billion in imports, ranking 7th nationally for net exports. Georgia’s goods reached nearly 300 global markets. To help businesses prepare, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce released a comprehensive analysis titled ‘Tariffs Briefing: April 2025 – New U.S. Tariffs + Potential Georgia Impact.’ The report outlines specific threats to agriculture, automotive manufacturing, construction, and port logistics.” [FOX 5 Atlanta, 4/8/25]
Trump’s Tariffs Threatened Georgia’s Agricultural Industry, Which Produced “Far More Than The Local Market Demands,” And Relied On Exports To Other Countries, With A “Significant Share” Going To China. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “And Savannah’s booming ports are bracing for a slowdown as tariff threats and other business headwinds exact a toll on global shipping. Georgia imports more from China than from any other country, although the share of Chinese goods coming through the Savannah port is shrinking. Few sectors are more vulnerable than agriculture, Georgia’s largest industry. State farmers produce far more than the local market demands, and much of that is shipped overseas. A significant share goes to China, the epicenter of the trade battle.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/18/25]
April 2025 Morning Consult Survey: More Than Two-Thirds Of Georgia Voters Believed Tariffs Would “Push Up Prices On Everyday Goods,” And A Majority Said They Were “Already Cutting Back On Spending, Avoiding Big Purchases, Or Stocking Up Before Price Hikes Hit.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “And economic anxiety is already showing up in polling. A Morning Consult survey released this month found more than two-thirds of Georgia voters believe tariffs will push up prices on everyday goods. A majority say they are already cutting back on spending, avoiding big purchases or stocking up before price hikes hit.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/18/25]