AFP-SC: Tariffs May Put the Brakes on Hub City Economy

Nov 8, 2018 by AFP

Columbia, SC – This week, BMW said it is considering moving production of crossover vehicles currently made at its Spartanburg factory to China, as the company expects to take a major financial hit due to China’s retaliatory tariffs on vehicles imported from the U.S. BMW made 370,000 vehicles last year at its Spartanburg plant, with two-thirds of those being exported to other countries, including China. BMW has not said what shifting production would mean for jobs or production at the plant.

AFP-SC, State Director, Andrew Yates issued the following statement:

“We know that President Trump’s tax cuts have made South Carolina more prosperous, but we surely can’t say the same about his tariffs. As we’ve warned, tariffs not only hurt job-creators like BMW, they also threaten the livelihood of the thousands of hardworking individuals and families who depend on this factory for their way of life. Simply put, it is time to end these tariffs before they further damage our local economy and put more people out of work. We should be tearing down trade barriers, not erecting economic walls that stymie opportunity. AFP-SC sincerely urges the administration to reconsider these harmful policies which could put so many South Carolinians out of work.”

Background:

In June, Americans for Prosperity announced a major campaign to promote trade and combat tariffs. Find more information here.