Congressman Castro, San Antonio Leaders Respond to Trump’s Expensive and Dangerous Trade War
SAN ANTONIO — Today, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Texas State Senators José Menéndez (SD-26) and Roland Gutierrez (SD-19), and San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Luis Rodriguez held a press conference to respond to President Trump’s dangerous and reckless threats to raise prices for Texas families and businesses by levying tariffs on America’s largest trading partners. Early estimates indicate that Trump’s proposed tariffs – which would affect a wide range of products, from grocery items to gasoline — would cost the average American household as much as $1,200/year.
“Donald Trump's second term as president has been chaotic and destabilizing for San Antonio, for Texas and for the United States. His tariffs are a tax on the American people — a penalty that hard-working Texans will pay every time they buy groceries, fill up their tank of gas or shop at local businesses. On average, these tariffs will cost the American people up to $1,200 a year, with prices going up even faster and higher in Texas because of our trade with Mexico,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “San Antonio is made up of humble, hard-working people who don’t ask much from their government. Most of the people we represent don’t have $1,200 extra to spare. For many, these tariffs will mean less food on the table, tighter budgets, and less freedom to dream big about the things they want to pursue in life. Businesses will downsize and eventually, jobs will disappear. These tariffs are dangerous and destructive, and everyone should speak up about the betrayal they represent to our families, our businesses, and our workers.”
“San Antonio small businesses, family-owned businesses, manufacturers and most importantly, our working residents can't afford Donald Trump's tariffs,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “San Antonio residents will get hit hard by these tariffs, which are among the most ill-advised, self-defeating measures that a president has made in recent memory. We ask this administration to end its assault on the American working class and permanently end these damaging tariffs.”
“Over a quarter-billion dollars of trade from San Antonio to Mexico will be affected by these tariffs annually. Every single person – truck drivers, the people who load and unload the trucks, the people who work at every stage of our trade will be impacted. Hard-working Texans are going to have to pay more at the grocery store and more for the cost of a vehicle. These tariffs are an attack on working families,” said Senator José Menéndez.
“I have yet to hear someone from that White House explain to us how these tariffs are good for business,” said Senator Roland Gutierrez. “Yesterday, I was at the grocery store, and I spent over $300 on my groceries for four people. Imagine what it would cost a family of four just trying to make ends meet when these tariffs go into effect, and they are looking at $1,300 or $1,400 a month just for groceries because their produce has gone up so much. These tariffs are going to break families in Texas and force them to work even harder just to make a daily living.”