Briel Voices Opposition to Reckless Trump Tariffs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Concerned about the impact reckless tariffs would have on local families and businesses, state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, helped pass House Resolution 119 Wednesday condemning Donald Trump’s trade war proposals expected to raise costs on households significantly and put jobs at risk.

“Donald Trump’s reckless economic experiments will directly sabotage the people of Illinois who grow our food, who keep our grocery stores stocked, and who wake up at dawn every day to work in the fields so families have food on the table. I’m disappointed that members on the opposite side of the aisle failed to recognize this by leaving the House floor rather than sticking up for the families that reside here,” Briel said. “Trump’s trade war proposal will decimate entire farm families, wiping out livelihoods that have sustained this state for generations. I worry for farm families like mine, where these tariffs will make it nearly impossible to pass farmland onto our children, breaking the cycle of generational farming that built this very nation. But most of all, I worry about how this will gut the entire backbone of Illinois agriculture, slashing out crop values, shrinking our food supply, and ultimately endangering the affordability of food we put on our tables every night.”

Tariffs are expected to significantly impact Illinois’ agricultural and manufacturing sectors and exasperate market instability. According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Canada and Mexico are the state’s top export partners. Briel is concerned that longstanding, multi-billion-dollar business relationships that support thousands of Illinois jobs could be put at risk.

Additionally, if fully implemented, tariffs are expected to increase prices on everyday items – including gas, utilities, and groceries. Many economists believe the action would spur inflation, and according to some estimates, families could see annual costs rise as much as $2,600 (Peterson Institute for International Economics, Aug. 2024).