Michigan’s standing in global tariff tug-of-war: The president and critics’ assessment

MICHIGAN—InanotherboldmovefromtheWhiteHouse,sweepingnewtariffsonimportsimpactingdozensofcountriestookeffectonThursday,whichPresidentTrumphassaidispartofalong-termstrategytoboostdomesticmanufacturingandthenation’seconomy. PresidentDonaldTrumphasvaluedthetariffsasaninvestmentintoAmerica’sfuture. “Thereallevelsofgrowtharegoingtobejudgedinayearfromnow,whenyoustartseeingsomeoftheseincredibleplants,becausewehavecarplantsopening.They’recominginfromCanada,fromMexico,andfromallovertheworld.Andthey’recomingbecausetheylikethewaytheelectionworkedout,buttheyalsolikethefactthattheydon’twanttopaytariffs,”Trumpsaid. Michigan,amajorautomotivemanufacturingstate,onceagainstandstoweathertheimpactfromtheincreasedcostonimportedvehicleparts,accordingtoeconomistChrisDouglas. Douglas,aprofessorofeconomicsattheUniversityofMichigan-Flint,toldNewsChannel3thatwhiletariffsaredesignedtofavorU.S.producti