DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Monday directing Colorado agencies to push back against the economic fallout from President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which he called reckless and harmful to critical state industries.
The order, created in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), launches the Colorado Tariff Burden Reduction Task Force. This group will develop strategies to ease the impact of tariffs on sectors like aerospace, agriculture, and health care.
“We are taking action to protect jobs and keep Colorado’s economy thriving,” Polis said. “Tariffs do not work, and we will continue to prove that what Americans and Coloradans need most is certainty and stability—not whiplash policies that drive up the cost of groceries and goods.”
Eve Lieberman, OEDIT’s executive director, said the agency will gather data and develop policies to help businesses navigate shifting federal trade policies. “We are committed to empowering the state and our partners to collectively respond to changing federal policies and protect Colorado’s thriving economy,” she said.
Polis joins other Democratic governors—JB Pritzker of Illinois, Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Kathy Hochul of New York, Tina Kotek of Oregon, and Bob Ferguson of Washington—who are taking similar steps.
In his order, Polis noted the instability caused by Trump’s tariffs across industries and called on agencies to assess their economic burden on consumers and manufacturers, and to suggest ways to reduce uncertainty.
Colorado’s aerospace sector is especially vulnerable. With the highest aerospace job concentration and the second-highest total aerospace employment in the U.S., the state employs over 55,000 people across 2,000 companies. In 2024 alone, Colorado exported $500 million in aerospace parts and imported $1 billion—mainly to and from countries like the EU, Brazil, France, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and Germany.
Tariffs also threaten trade ties with Mexico and Canada, Colorado’s top two export markets. In 2024, Colorado exported $1.7 billion in goods to Mexico and $1.6 billion to Canada. Tourism from those countries adds to the state’s economy, with nearly 400,000 combined visitors in 2023 contributing about $250 million.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a similar order, asking state agencies to examine how tariffs could affect food supplies, public health, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness.
Polis has consistently criticized Trump’s trade policies, warning they will raise costs for both businesses and consumers. A recent Yahoo Finance/Marist poll found that over 80% of Americans are concerned about how Trump’s tariffs could impact their personal finances.
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