What Canadian tariffs mean for Colorado
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Canada is Colorado's largest trading partner, with $6.9 billion in trade last year, more than double the state's trade with No. 2 Mexico.
Why it matters: President Trump's new tariffs on Canadian goods — and Canada's retaliatory tariffs — are hitting Colorado's biggest trading relationship.
By the numbers: About $230 million in Canadian imports to Colorado are affected, the World Trade Center Denver told the Denver Post.
- That's about 4.3% of Colorado's Canadian import total.
What they're saying: "Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have so integrated their economies that this really disrupts that," said Sandi Moilanen, vice president of operations at WTC Denver.
State of play: The latest trade war erupted after negotiations between the U.S. and Canada broke down earlier this month.
- The Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on a broad range of Canadian goods while keeping earlier levies, including those on cars.
- Canada responded with tariffs of 15% to 50% on U.S. goods.
The big picture: Colorado importers paid an estimated $1.7 billion in Trump tariffs through June — equivalent to about $672 per household.
- Clothes and shoes led the state's tariff-hit categories, followed closely by electrical equipment, according to a website tracking impacts.
What they're saying: Gov. Jared Polis celebrated Colorado-Canada Friendship Day in March and pledged to maintain the connection. "A strong partnership benefits both Colorado and Canada," he added in a recent social media post.