Gov. Ducey Focuses On Border Safety Rather Than Border Tariffs

By Holliday Moore
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 12:28pm

The U.S. and Arizona Chambers of Commerce may be nervous about President Donald Trump's plan to impose multiple tariffs on Mexico, but Gov. Doug Ducey is not.

On Monday, Ducey brushed aside local Chamber and industry leaders’ complaints calling the President's plan against Mexico "baffling and terribly damaging” to Arizona’s economy.

"Our economy is roaring right now. Our economy is doing terrific. Our economy is going to do terrific," Ducey said.

He did the same when asked about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce' predictions that Trump's proposal for a five percent tariff would increase costs for Arizona consumers by about $452 million. Or, that bumping it to 25 percent by October would cost tax payers an additional $2.3 billion.

"Well, the U.S. Chamber is going to prioritize commerce,'' he said. "That's why they're called the Chamber of Commerce. The Arizona governor is going to prioritize safety.''

Ducey joined the President in blaming the migrant overflow at Arizona detention centers and non-profit shelters on Congress.

"Congress makes the law," he said, "they've had no changes,'' referring to the length of time federal centers are allowed to keep asylum seekers.

The new policies have cause mass immigrant releases upon non-profit shelters.

"If you can't see that these nonprofits are at their breaking point, then you would be calling for the same action I'm calling for," Ducey said.

He's found himself not only at odds with the business community on the issue of tariffs but also with members of his own Republican Party.

U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, whom the governor appointed to office, is chief among them.

"I do not support these types of tariffs, which will harm our economy and be passed onto Arizona small businesses and families,'' she said in a prepared statement.

In the end, Glenn Hamer, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce told Capitol Media Services that, "this will only inflict harm on the U.S. consumer.”

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