
Report: Tariffs Could Hurt KY More than Other States
Clip: Season 3 Episode 239 | 3m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
A new report says tariffs could hurt Kentucky more because of its reliance on global trade.
One of President Donald Trump's main actions in his first 100 days of office was to levy new tariffs. A recent report says tariffs could hurt Kentucky more than other states because Kentucky is the most reliant on global trade. June Leffler reports.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Kentucky Edition is a local public television program presented by KET

Report: Tariffs Could Hurt KY More than Other States
Clip: Season 3 Episode 239 | 3m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
One of President Donald Trump's main actions in his first 100 days of office was to levy new tariffs. A recent report says tariffs could hurt Kentucky more than other states because Kentucky is the most reliant on global trade. June Leffler reports.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Kentucky Edition
Kentucky Edition is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipOne of Trump's main actions in the first 100 days is to levy new tariffs.
A recent report says tariffs could hard Kentucky more than other states because Kentucky is the most reliant on global trade.
Our due, Leffler explains more in this report.
A recent report poses this formula to gauge how much a state depends on the global market.
We are talking about the total value of goods a state exports to and imports from other countries compared to the the size of its economy, its gross domestic product, or the GDP that we call it.
The report comes from the National Association of Realtors.
When compared to its own GDP, Kentucky imports more goods than any other state.
Last year's top import was pharmaceuticals.
And Kentucky is third in the nation for exports, behind Louisiana and Texas.
We export a lot of goods, especially as a manufacturing state, but also an agricultural state.
For example, we export several billion dollars worth of, aerospace parts.
We export a lot in the automotive industry and a range of other manufacturing sectors, but we're also well known as an agricultural state.
Kentucky has had record breaking economic growth in recent years thanks to more manufacturing, especially in automotives.
But that's why Kentucky is vulnerable now.
Any state that makes a lot of things, you tend to import a lot of things because we import goods from all over the world, and then we do various things with them.
We make things.
The alternative to manufacturing or making things is services.
Thank tourism, finance and health care.
Less trade dependance States tend to be to have, like more diversified service based economies that have added like jobs faster or like more stable phase one profitable service industry in Kentucky is shipping, but that's clearly tied to international trade.
Shipping companies like U.P.S., whose M wall port facility, in Louisville, is one of the largest, automated package handling facilities in the world.
So, that infrastructure connects Kentucky to global markets around the clock.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce represents the largest business interests in the state.
The chamber opposes Trump's tariffs.
The number one thing we're hearing from businesses across Kentucky right now is the sheer uncertainty of this.
No one knows what's going to happen next.
There aren't particularly clear policy objectives that are at least known to businesses.
And so it's very, very difficult for them to react and plan around these things at the moment.
Kentucky's U.S. senators agree with the chamber both Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell have voted to undo tariffs on Canada, though Kentucky's Republican congressmen have a bit more faith in Trump's tariffs.
For Kentucky edition, I'm John Leffler.
Thank you much, June.
The white House says President Trump will sign an executive order today to relax some of its 25% tariffs on autos and auto parts.
Marking President Trump's First 100 Days in Office
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep239 | 1m 49s | The President gets a glowing review from most of Kentucky's federal delegation. (1m 49s)
Massive Concrete Sculpture Installed at New Lexington Park
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep239 | 4m 2s | The 16-ton sculpture resembles a fossil commonly found in Lexington's limestone. (4m 2s)
New Police Training Facility Unveiled
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep239 | 2m 47s | The center is named after a Kentucky deputy killed in the line of duty. (2m 47s)
What Does it Take to Get a REAL ID?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep239 | 4m 35s | Federal enforcement of the REAL ID Act starts May 7. (4m 35s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
Kentucky Edition is a local public television program presented by KET