In 2025, Burt Jones praised Trump’s tariffs for putting “American jobs first” and “American manufacturing first,” 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. Jones praised Trump’s “aggressive approach” while two-thirds of Georgians believed the tariffs would cause their everyday costs to increase.
February 2025: When Asked If He Had Any Concerns About Trump’s Tariffs, Jones Said He Did Not “Have An Issue With How” Trump Was “Trying To Put American Jobs First, American Manufacturing First.” According to Jones in a Politically Georgia Interview, “HOST: So I know there's very little daylight, if any, between you and where Donald Trump stands, but is there anything that is giving you caution? We talked a little bit about the the cuts to the CDC and beyond DOGE has implemented. But when you look at other things, too, the foreign policy tilts, you know, more towards Russia and away from the EU and Europe. Some of the tariffs that could cause some pain to consumers here. I know that there's farmers and manufacturers who welcome it, but it's going to cause higher prices from everything from from coke cans to construction beams if they go through. But are there issues that you're worried about? JONES: But you've also seen companies like Apple, who for the first time saying they're going to invest over almost a half a trillion dollars in the United States. And well, his, the goal is to try to get these manufacturing jobs back to the United States. We can't continuously be an importer of all goods and all services. And I think he realizes that. He has a very a very aggressive approach to things. But that's the way he's always approached things and that's the way he's been successful at all the various entities that he's done. […] But so, I don't have an issue with how he's going about things on the world stage, how he's trying to put American jobs first, American manufacturing first, how he has secured the border.” [Burt Jones Interview – Politically Georgia, 2/27/25] (AUDIO)
April 2-4, 2025: The U.S. Stock Market Crashed As Trump’s Tariffs “Escalated A Global Trade War And Wiped Out Trillions Of Dollars In Value.” According to NPR, “Wall Street plummeted for a second straight day on Friday, as President Trump's tariffs escalated a global trade war and wiped out trillions of dollars in value from the U.S. stock market. The two-day selloff served as the financial community's most brutal warning yet about the potential fallout of Trump's trade policy. Investors, businesses, and consumers are all expressing mounting terror about how these sweeping new taxes could upend the global economy.” [NPR, 4/4/25]
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]