Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger today urged the Trump Administration to reconsider its tariff policies, warning of "real and mounting economic harm" to the Commonwealth and the nation from new 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods and anticipated retaliation. Canada is Virginia's second-largest trade partner and its largest export market.
In 2025, Virginia exported $2.9 billion in goods to Canada, contributing to a total of $19 billion in exports globally. The state's agriculture and forestry industries, its largest and third-largest private sectors, saw exports decline to $3.13 billion in 2025 from $3.44 billion in 2024. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains, hurting producers and small businesses, and have increased costs for Virginia families by an average of $2,900 since the start of President Trump’s second term.
Governor Spanberger sent letters to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, outlining the severe impact. "The Administration’s actions have directly contributed to a marked decline in Virginia’s agricultural and forestry exports," said Governor Abigail Spanberger, adding that small businesses "have very little capacity to absorb sustained cost increases from tariffs on imported goods."
She emphasized the broader consequences, stating, "Simply put, continuing down this path will have devastating consequences for Virginia and states across the country." Spanberger called for restoring predictable market access for Virginia exporters and strengthening the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which she previously supported as a Member of Congress.
The Governor's office highlighted her ongoing efforts to expand trade, including a recent international economic trade mission and her work to support Virginia's agricultural producers.