Colorado Democrats, including Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. John Hickenlooper, are speaking out against former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, calling them harmful to consumers, businesses, and the broader economy.
Despite the Trump administration touting tariffs as a major economic success—bringing in more than $150 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025—Colorado leaders say the cost to everyday Americans is too high.
“Once again, President Trump is playing chicken with America’s economy, and the American people are the ones suffering,” Polis said. “This means higher costs on food, clothing, electronics and so much more.” He criticized the tariffs as a hidden tax that fuels uncertainty and damages investment and job growth.
Polis singled out Canadian tariffs, which rose to 35% on August 1, as especially troubling. Colorado shares a strong trade relationship with Canada, which accounted for 18% of the state’s $1.8 billion in exports in 2023. In March, Polis even declared “Colorado Canada Friendship Day” and raised the Canadian flag over the state capitol in a gesture of partnership.
To combat the local impact of tariffs, Polis issued an executive order in July creating the Colorado Tariff Burden Reduction Task Force. Its goal is to study the effects of federal trade policies and recommend ways to protect Colorado’s economy.
Colorado’s beef exports—one of its most valuable agricultural sectors—are also at risk. Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, and China, which are now subject to fluctuating U.S. tariffs, are major buyers of Colorado beef. In 2024 alone, the U.S. exported over $10 billion in beef products worldwide.
Sen. Hickenlooper echoed Polis’ concerns, warning of a broader economic fallout. “Trump’s tariff-taxes are raising prices, tanking the US dollar’s buying power, crushing our small businesses with uncertainty, and now stunting job growth,” he said. “This is a recipe for a recession.”
Still, some industries appear resilient. Car sales have climbed in Colorado this year, and inflation in the Denver area has seen only a slight uptick since Trump took office. Unemployment rates have also improved, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the national administration celebrates what it calls a “Golden Age,” Colorado Democrats are urging a course correction—before the cost of tariffs does more lasting damage to the state’s economy.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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