Trade war, local casualties: How are Washington State businesses and families feeling the brunt? Leaders in Washington aren’t mincing words—a new state analysis forecasts a potential loss of over 31,000 jobs and billions in lost revenue if sweeping tariffs continue. According to the state’s Office of Financial Management, the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs would:
- Push grocery bills up more than 16% over two years
- Increase clothing/shoes costs by 7% and used car prices up to 25%
- Shrink quarterly GDP growth by up to 1.8% for years to come—especially in agriculture, aerospace, and food manufacturing
- Slash state revenues by $2.2 billion by 2029, with bigger risks if trading partners strike back
Local business owners, like Seattle’s Boon Boona Coffee, already see line-item tariff charges on invoices and have shelved expansion plans. Gov. Ferguson frames it bluntly: “There is no scenario in which these tariffs are good for Washingtonians.” Tariff policy is now headed for the Supreme Court—but for local businesses and workers, the economic impact is already real.
