r/politics • u/sweatycat New York • 1d ago

California to Negotiate Trade With Other Countries to Bypass Trump Tariffs

https://www.newsweek.com/california-newsom-trade-trump-tariffs-2055414
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u/PDX_Duffman 1d ago

I am hoping the whole west coast goes (but Minnesota & Illinois are welcome to join the party!). Like college conferences, why does geography matter?

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u/Spicy_McHagg1s 1d ago

It matters because this inevitably leads to state lines becoming national borders. What's being proposed is secession and balkanization, not an NCAA conference. We've been following a long, winding road back here since the end of reconstruction.

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u/onethreeone Minnesota 1d ago

No it doesn't. Citizens are free to move to these states, they can road trip and buy goods here, they don't have any different rights (well I guess they'd often have more)... It's no different than different state tax rates

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u/Spicy_McHagg1s 23h ago

States don't make trade deals with nations. Nations make trade deals with nations. 

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u/onethreeone Minnesota 23h ago

State leaders visit other countries all the time to promote trade, what are you on about?

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u/Spicy_McHagg1s 22h ago

Promote, sure. Once a state decides to ignore national tax policy and back channel trade policy around the federal government, the state is in the process of secession. Make it sound as cute as you like but once that line is crossed, the United States aren't united anymore.