US tariffs on agri-products raise concern

State officials warn against 'reckless policies' raising costs for consumers

A senior commerce official in the US state of Washington has said that while trade imbalances are a legitimate concern, tariffs have historically harmed rather than helped the state.

"Tariffs often function as a tax on American consumers and businesses," Joe Nguyen, the state's commerce director, said in an interview with Seattle radio station KUOW. "We've found that nearly 93 percent of tariffs are passed on to consumers, driving up costs."

Nguyen expressed particular concern for agricultural communities, which depend on global exports of apples, cherries and hops, and emphasized the need for predictable trade policies to foster economic stability.