Trump administration’s trade moves threaten California prosperity | Opinion

On a recent trip to Japan, I asked a waiter where they got their wines.

“We have them from all over the world,” she said. “But most of what we sell comes from California.”

That is free trade. It’s now under attack. It seems politically out of fashion in this country to defend it. And that’s wrong.

Free trade has changed the world for the better. As someone who holds free trade as a core economic belief, I have been surprised by the lack of opinion leaders pushing back on efforts to create friction in the global economy. Many political and business figures who once championed open markets now seem protectionist.

The Trump administration is sadly at the bottom of this. Its attempts to roll back decades of trade progress threaten to undermine the very foundations of California’s prosperity. For a state whose economy thrives on global exchange, open markets are a necessity.

Free trade has allowed California to specialize and succeed in ways few places on earth can match. Our Central Valley farmers have built a global reputation for producing almonds, pistachios, grapes, tomatoes and countless other crops. This success is no accident: It is the result of focusing on our competitive advantages with the world.

When markets remain open, California’s farmers benefit from efficiency and scale while consumers abroad enjoy access to high-quality food. If trade barriers rise and retaliation follows, we lose that advantage.

Farmers who have spent generations building export relationships could see markets close overnight. That would be a self-defeating policy for a state that depends so heavily on agricultural exports.

Free trade also benefits consumers. California’s ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach are gateways for goods to and from this country that keep prices reasonable and choices abundant. From electronics to clothing to cars, the global marketplace allows Californians to buy what they need at a lower cost. When tariffs are imposed, the burden ultimately falls on families.

The Trump administration’s trade wars are raising prices for everyday products. While those policies were sold as a defense of American jobs, that is not a comprehensive economic view. Californians understand this reality in a practical way. We see it every time we shop for goods built on global supply chains.

Our economy also depends on trade for job creation and long-term growth. California’s technology sector, manufacturers and service providers all rely on access to global markets. When our products and ideas reach the world, our people benefit from higher wages and greater opportunity.

Protectionism is a sign of retreat

Restricting trade shrinks those possibilities. It sends the message that the United States no longer wants to lead but to retreat from the very system it helped create. That is not a message that serves California or the nation well.

Trade is not just about goods and money; it is also about relationships. When California exports food, software, films and technology, we export our values and build ties that foster understanding and stability. The global economy gives nations reasons to work together rather than against each other.

The World Trade Organization has shown that trade promotes global growth and reduces poverty. Free trade helps maintain peace by making cooperation more valuable than conflict. Protectionism — by contrast — isolates us and fuels distrust. California’s open and outward-looking spirit reflects the better path — one of connection, not barriers.

Free trade also drives the innovation that defines our state. Competition from abroad pushes California companies to improve, adapt and stay ahead. Whether it is clean energy, biotechnology or entertainment, our leadership depends on the ability to sell to and learn from the world. We do not need to dominate every industry; other nations will have their own strengths. When we close markets, we close ourselves off from the exchange of ideas and technology that improves our products and our lives.

The lesson of history is simple: free trade works. It sustains our farms, lowers costs for families, supports good jobs, builds peace and keeps us innovative. California’s future depends on defending it, far more forcefully than we are now.

Matt Rexroad is an attorney and political consultant.