SACRAMENTO – In response to new tariffs announced by the Trump Administration, Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) has introduced Senate Bill (SB) 263 – the Protecting Residents, Industries, and California’s Economy (PRICE) Act to study the impacts of these tariffs on businesses, affordability, workers, and the state’s economy.

President Trump announced Saturday that the United States would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada and a 10% increase on goods imported from China. Already, negotiations to delay the implementation of tariffs including a crackdown on border security and threats of reciprocal tariffs have sown chaos and created uncertainty for businesses and consumers.

California seaports account for nearly 40% of all U.S. imports and 30% of exports in addition to trade at cargo airports and land ports of entry. This trade generates over $38 billion in tax revenue and supports over 3 million jobs nationwide. Ongoing uncertainty and increased tariffs on key trading partners will raise costs for businesses that rely on international trade and could exacerbate affordability issues for California residents and Americans across the country. 

“Families are already struggling with high prices and a high cost of living,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez. “The actions taken by the Trump Administration to raise tariffs will not protect American business as he claims – they will actually raise prices of consumer goods, increase costs for our small businesses, and reduce employment opportunities in key sectors of our economy. SB 263 – the PRICE Act – will give us the data-driven insights and tools we need to protect California families and businesses from these harmful and ineffective policies.”

SB 263 would direct specified state agencies to conduct a study on the impacts of tariffs imposed by the U.S. government and potential reciprocal tariffs imposed by other nations on a variety of economic factors, which will inform the Legislature’s work to bring down the cost of living and design policies that support California workers, families, and businesses. 

“With the imposition of new tariffs on some of our largest trading partners, SB 263 will provide our policymakers with a critical assessment of how these new taxes will impact the California economy, affordability, consumers, manufacturers, farmers, workers, and state and local tax revenues,” said Mike Jacob, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “The stakes are high. We want to protect California’s leading position as an international maritime gateway which contributes tens of billions of dollars to the California state economy, supports the employment of millions across the country, and generates over $2.7 billion in state and local taxes from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles alone.” 

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Majority Leader Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. In the Senate, she advocates for working families and champions various priorities, such as fighting for a clean environment, digital equity, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, and the economic prosperity of small businesses. Her landmark legislative achievements include bills enacted to end neighborhood oil drilling, provide broadband for all, and expand paid sick leave. Majority Leader Gonzalez also serves as Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more about Majority Leader Gonzalez, visit her website at www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez. 

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) is an independent, not-for-profit association focused on global trade. PMSA operates offices in Oakland, Long Beach and Seattle, and represents owners and operators of marine terminals and U.S. and foreign vessels operating throughout the world.