Washington trade groups applaud tariff ruling but warn against 'sledgehammer' trade policy

Washington state’s most trade-driven industries are celebrating the Supreme Court's reaffirmation of Congress's power to tax, though many fear the administration will quickly deploy more 'narrowly tailored' trade barriers. AWB President Kris Johnson reported that 54% of state employers were harmed by recent tariffs through higher input costs and lost export markets. State GOP Chairman Jim Walsh cautioned that while focused tariffs can be a useful 'scalpel,' the recent broad approach acted as a 'sledgehammer' that eroded the Northwest's price competitiveness.