How Badly Will MAGA Trade War Hurt Kansas City Economy?!?

Like it or not . . . It's just a fact that trade wars negatively impact BOTH sides of almost every equation and hurt the global economy overall. 

Here's the word from people who are not "woke" and skew overwhelmingly conservative . . . 

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board slammed President Trump on Monday, calling his plan to place tariffs on other countries the “dumbest tariff plunge.”

Closer to home . . . 

Local biz people seem to be mostly supportive of "America First" trade policy but, understandably, have a lot of apprehension about the power moves will play out.

Here's a passage we thought was insightful . . . 

“It’s been really busy,” said Ralph Oropeza, the business manager at the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council. “We have a record number of projects, and we have a record number of people coming from all over the country to the Kansas City metro area to do these projects. We are extremely excited about the amount of projects we have going on.”

With President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, there are concerns that could put a pause on the progress. Oropeza says the tariffs could bring uncertainty, and may slow down or halt projects in the area.

“While larger scale firms that are creating these huge data centers may be able to absorb some of that loss, our smaller scale projects will be directly impacted because there not as affluent with money that is readily available for them to recoup any costs,” said Oropeza. “The smaller projects, which make up way more projects: housing, small commercial, small industrial, if those slow down, where are those people going to work? It directly impacts the economy, everyone around.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Concerns tariffs could impact construction in Kansas City

Oropeza says the tariffs could impact their workforce and apprenticeships while also having a ripple effect on the local economy.

Kansas Citians react to new tariffs likely to increase prices for auto industry

Tariffs announced by President Donald Trump could increase the average price of a new car by at least $3,000. The average price of a new car is now $50,000, according to an Associated Press report.

Developing . . .