Newsom Says California to Seek Tariff Exemptions From Allies

Gavin Newsom
Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg

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By Sarah McGregor, Eliyahu Kamisher, and Alicia Clanton

April 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM UTC

Updated on

April 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he’s seeking exemptions for California-made products from retaliatory tariffs and wants to open talks with global allies over new trade relationships, casting the state as a buffer against the fallout of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan.

In a post on X on Friday, Newsom said that he has directed his administration to reassure allies that “California remains a stable trading partner,” even as Trump pushes for a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports and steeper tariffs for some nations.