¶ Overview
In 2025, Garrity supported Trump’s tariffs, which were dooming Pennsylvanians to a trade war and rising prices.
Garrity even recognized that Trump’s tariffs would increase prices. Tariffs are contributing to higher food prices and are hurting Pennsylvania small businesses and families. From January to May 2025, Pennsylvanians faced an estimated cost of $1.6 billion in tariffs. Despite this, Garrity called Trump’s tariffs "common sense measures," even as the U.S. stock market crashed due to Trump’s escalating global trade war.
¶ Garrity Supported Trump’s Tariffs Despite The Harm They Could Cause To Pennsylvania’s Economy
¶ Garrity Supported Trump’s Devastating Tariffs, Claiming They Were “Restoring Fair Trade Balance” And Were A “Death Sentence For The Evil Forces”
¶ Even Though The U.S. Stock Market Had Crashed, Garrity Claimed Trump’s Tariffs Would Restore “Fair Trade Balance,” Bring Back Manufacturing Jobs, And Punish “Evil Forces”
April 7, 2025: Garrity Supported Trump’s Tariffs, Claiming Trump Was “Restoring Fair Trade Balance With The United States And Our Trading Partners.” According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Trump’s recent announcement of taxing imported products from around the world was not a major theme at the conservative gathering. However, Garrity and Meuser both expressed their support for Trump’s tariff policy during their speeches to attendees. Business owners who purchase goods from outside the U.S. will have to pay the increased duty rates to bring the products over the border, unless Trump carves out exceptions for certain industries. ‘He’s restoring fair trade balance with the United States and our trading partners by putting tariffs on countries that place tariffs on American goods,’ Garrity said on Friday.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 4/7/25]
- 2025: Garrity Called Trump’s Tariff Policy A Part Of “Common Sense Measures” That Were A “Death Sentence For The Evil Forces At Play Within Our Own Country And Abroad.” According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “She described his tariff policy, along with other parts of his agenda as ‘common sense measures’ that are good for the American people and a ‘death sentence for the evil forces at play within our own country and abroad.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 4/7/25]
- 2025: Garrity Hoped The Tariffs Would Benefit American Workers, Bring Back Manufacturing Jobs To The U.S., And Encourage Countries To Work With The U.S. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Garrity expressed optimism that Trump’s tariff policies will benefit the American worker, saying ‘these countries, you can see it already, they are going to work with us.’ ‘I come from the private sector, and we had to shut down a business unit, 250 jobs. You know where they went? China,’ she added. ‘I think anything that we’re doing to bring manufacturing jobs back into America is a great thing.’” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 4/7/25]
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]
¶ Garrity Praised Trump For Using Tariffs To Pressure Mexico Into Deploying 10,000 Troops
2025: Garrity Praised Trump For Using Tariffs To Pressure Mexico Into Deploying 10,000 Troops To The U.S.-Mexico Border In Exchange For Pausing The Tariffs. According to Garrity’s Twitter, “This is why having a businessman in the White House matters. Trump put real pressure on Mexico—securing 10,000 troops at the border without giving away the store. Biden wouldn’t have even tested for a better deal. Think about that.”
[Twitter, @GarrityForPA, 2/3/25]
¶ Garrity Acknowledged That Trump’s Tariffs Would Increase Prices
2025: Garrity Acknowledged That Trump’s Tariffs Would Increase Prices, Calling It “Very Short-Term Pain For A Tremendous Long-Term Gain.” According to Garrity on Real America’s Voice, “HOST: Tell me what the tariffs mean to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? GARRITY: Okay, so I say it’s very short-term pain for a tremendous long-term gain. HOST: Kind of like leg day. GARRITY: Exactly, exactly. And for folks that are complaining about prices going up, well where were they when we were losing millions of manufacturing jobs overseas?” [Garrity Interview – Real America’s Voice, 8/18/25] (VIDEO)
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Were Hurting Small Businesses And Families In Pennsylvania
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Would Likely Increase Costs By $2,400 To $3,400 Per Family As Inflation Increased Due To The Tariffs
HEADLINE: “Grocery Inflation Highest Since 2022 As Trump Tariffs Pile Up” [Axios, 9/16/25]
Yale Budget Lab: Trump’s Tariffs Would Likely Increase Costs By $2,400 To $3,400 Per Family, And Lower-Income Families Would Bear A Greater Financial Burden. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “According to reporting by States Newsroom, rising prices under Trump’s tariff scenario are likely to cost an extra $2,400 to $3,400 per family, according to the Yale Budget Lab, with most of the financial burden falling on the lowest-income households.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 4/7/25]
Peterson Institute On International Economics: Average American Households Would Lose More Than $1,200 From Tariffs Imposed Against China, Canada, And Mexico. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “An analysis from the Peterson Institute on International Economics estimated the typical American household would lose over $1,200, just from the 25% tariffs already imposed on China, Canada and Mexico.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 4/7/25]
¶ In The First Half Of 2025, Pennsylvanians Experienced An Estimated Tariff Impact Of $1.6 Billion
Trade Partnership Worldwide: From January To May 2025, Pennsylvanians Experienced An Estimated Tariff Impact Of $1.6 Billion. According to Axios, “Tariffs imposed by President Trump have generated tens of billions of dollars in revenue for the government — but the burden falls far from equally on different states. The big picture: Who pays for tariffs is a long-settled issue — American businesses do, to the tune of billions of dollars. By the numbers: From Jan. 1 to May 31 of this year, Pennsylvania faced a tariff impact of $1.6 billion. Driving the news: Economic research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide shared an analysis with Axios showing the state-by-state cost of tariffs imposed by Trump during that period” [Axios, 7/16/25]
¶ Pennsylvania Small Businesses Increased Prices Due To Trump’s Tariffs
November 2025: Zach Gieg, President Of Just Press Play In Lancaster, A Toy And Video Game Small Business, Said That Every Item In The Store Increased 10 To 15 Percent Due To Tariffs. According to Fox 43, “Retailers across Pennsylvania are stocking their shelves, as they prepare to kick off the holiday shopping season. However, many small business owners believe that tariffs will mar customers' shopping experience. ‘Ultimately, it affects the bottom line for us and our customers,’ said Zach Gieg. Gieg is the president of Just Press Play in Lancaster, a small business that sells toys, collectables and video games. He said he's seen a 10-15% markup to every item in the store, adding that most of them come from overseas. ‘When Sony raises the price of a PS5 from $499 to $549, that is absolutely a direct impact from the tariffs,’ said Gieg.” [Fox 43, 11/26/25]
November 2025: David Astuto, The Owner Of Dave's Toybox In Mount Joy, Said Japanese-Made Toys “Skyrocketed” In Price And Added That Clients Were Starting To “Cut Back On Their Spending, Due To Tariffs Causing Price Hikes In Other Areas.” According to Fox 43, “Meanwhile, David Astuto, the owner of Dave's Toybox in Mount Joy, said he's relying on domestic suppliers to avoid paying tariffs for international toys. He said items like Pokémon cards and Labubus, which are made in Japan, have skyrocketed in price. ‘It's hard for me to order them because I would have to raise the prices, and it would really hurt my customers' ability to buy stuff,’ said Astuto. Astuto added that customers are beginning to cut back on their spending due to tariffs causing price hikes in other areas. ‘They want to buy a Lego set; they want to buy a video game system,’ said Astuto. ‘But it’s really tough for them when they have home costs that are rising.’ Retailers say they are doing their best to offer sales and eat some of the costs, so that families can get a good deal this holiday season.” [Fox 43, 11/26/25]