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U.S. Chamber of Commerce makes the case against Trump's tariffs

Trump delivers remarks, eyebrows raised.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a new lobbying campaign on Monday to illustrate the ways that the Trump administration's tariffs can hurt every state in the nation economically.

Why it matters: The nation's biggest business group — with 3 million members, per Reuters, who first reported the campaign — is usually an ally of the Republican Party and its politicians. And it has previously advocated for economic moves from the administration, like the GOP's new tax law, so its opposition is striking.

QuoteThe administration is threatening to undermine the economic progress it worked so hard to achieve. We should seek free and fair trade, but this is just not the way to do it.
— U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue in a statement to Reuters

The big picture: The Chamber's campaign lays out the number of jobs and the amount of exports at risk for each state — and provides a form for citizens to contact their members of Congress to express opposition to the tariffs.

By the numbers: Trump's net approval rating is highest in Louisiana, Alabama and South Dakota, per FiveThirtyEight.

  • In Louisiana, the Chamber estimated that 553,000 jobs and $5.3 billion in exports are at risk.
  • In Alabama, the Chamber estimated that 567,5000 jobs and $3.6 billion in exports are at risk.
  • In South Dakota, the Chamber estimated that 130,000 jobs and $129 million in exports are at risk.

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Trump trade war