LOS ANGELES, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Bozeman Daily Chronicle, an influential daily newspaper in state of Montana, published an editorials Friday, warning a "much-feared" trade war with China that ignited by President Donald Trump will damage the Treasure State.
In the story "Trade war with China bad for Montana", the newspaper said steep tariffs on imported products threatened by Trump could inflict collateral damage on a wide range of industries in states that handed the president an Electoral College victory in 2016, including "cattle production here in Montana."
A deal, marketing up to 200 million U.S. dollars worth of Montana beef to Chinese consumers through a Chinese online retailer, almost reached after China lifted a ban on U.S. beef imports last year, the newspaper founded in 1883 said, now it "may be threatened by the impending tariffs."
Last November, JD.com, the second largest online retailer in China, struck a 200 million U.S. dollars deal to import beef from Montana ranchers over the next three years.
Steve Daine, Senator from Montana, hailed the deal was a win-win business for both countries at that time, "If we're going to grow our economy in Montana, we need to grow our agricultural community. China is the second largest beef import market in the world. This is a tremendous opportunity for Montana."
So local ranchers and residents showed their concerns to Washington's trade policy clearly.
"Free trade - without the imposition of onerous tariffs - is not a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans alike have touted its benefits to national economies. And historically, trade wars ignited by tariffs have been blamed for economic downturns, including the Great Depression." the editorials read.
The newspaper published in Bozeman of Montana called on two Senators of the state, Daines and Jon Tester, "use what influence they wield and consensus they can build to convince the administration that negotiations, not tariffs, are the best way to address the trade imbalance with China."