California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a bold and controversial effort to bypass President Donald Trump’s new tariffs by creating his own trade relationships with foreign governments. His actions have sparked national outrage, with critics accusing him of undermining the federal government’s authority and possibly breaking the law in the process. Many believe this is all part of a calculated move as Newsom positions himself for a run at the presidency in 2028.
Trump’s Tariffs Are Meant to Protect American Jobs
On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs as part of his “Make America Wealthy Again” trade agenda. His plan includes a baseline 10 percent tariff on all imported goods, with even higher rates targeting around 60 countries that the administration accuses of imposing unfair trade practices on the United States.
The White House explained that these tariffs are designed to bring back American manufacturing, protect U.S. workers, and reduce the country’s trade deficit. “This is about fairness,” Trump said during the announcement. “For decades, other countries have taken advantage of America. That stops now.”
The tariffs are already beginning to impact the global economy. The Dow Jones dropped over 1,400 points the day after the announcement. In response, countries like China and members of the European Union have started discussing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products.
Newsom Says California Will Go Its Own Way
Governor Newsom quickly responded with his own message to the world. In a video statement released on April 4, he said, “Trump’s tariffs do not represent all Americans, particularly those that I represent here in the fifth largest economy in the world—the state of California.” He continued, “We value international trade. We value our manufacturing base.”
Newsom directed his administration to begin reaching out to foreign governments in an effort to form independent trade agreements that would shield California-made products from retaliation. According to his office, over 40 percent of California’s imports come from Mexico, Canada, and China, which totaled around $203 billion of the $491 billion the state imported last year.
“We look forward to continue to strengthen those ties, strengthen those bonds,” Newsom said. “I remind all of our international trading partners California is a stable trading partner, and we hope you consider that when it relates to California-made products.”
In another statement, he added, “To our international partners: As the fifth largest economy in the world, the Golden State will remain a steady, reliable partner for generations to come, no matter the turbulence coming out of Washington. California is not Washington, D.C.”
Experts Say Newsom May Be Breaking the Law
While Newsom claims he is only trying to protect Californians from economic harm, his actions may be illegal. Under the U.S. Constitution, states are not allowed to make their own foreign policy. Only the federal government has the power to negotiate trade deals with other nations.
The Logan Act makes it illegal for any U.S. citizen, including governors, to communicate with foreign governments in an attempt to influence international policy without permission from the federal government. The law says anyone doing so could face fines or prison time.
In 2018, Stanford Law professors David Freeman Engstrom and Jeremy Weinstein wrote, “By virtually any measure, California would be a global powerhouse except for two fundamental constraints: it lacks many of the legal attributes and policy instruments of a nation-state, and the U.S. Constitution expressly reserves for the federal government responsibility for the conduct of foreign affairs.”
Newsom’s announcement did not include details on how these trade deals would be structured. However, he did send a message to his political supporters that stated, “The trade war that Donald Trump has launched is going to be felt in pretty profound ways to real people, including those who voted for Donald Trump and are now being betrayed by this very administration.”
White House and Legal Experts Push Back
The Trump administration was quick to criticize Newsom’s move. White House spokesman Kush Desai said, “Gavin Newsom should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in California instead of trying his hand at international dealmaking.”
Newsom has a history of defying federal policy. During Trump’s first term, California signed independent climate agreements with foreign governments, including China and Italy. At that time, Newsom bragged that California could “show the limits of the power of this administration.”
Now, he is trying to use California’s economic power to shield the state from the effects of the tariffs. His office claims that California is home to 36,000 manufacturing firms and over 1.1 million workers in manufacturing. They say the tariffs could drive up prices on construction materials needed to rebuild parts of Los Angeles that were destroyed by wildfires in January.
California is also a major agricultural state, exporting $23.6 billion worth of products in 2022, including almonds, dairy, pistachios, wine, and walnuts. Newsom claims these industries are now in danger because of Trump’s new trade policy.
“We’re not scared to use our market power to fight back against the largest tax hike of our lifetime,” Newsom said in a post on X.
Newsom’s True Intentions: A Presidential Run?
Many believe that Newsom’s real motivation is not to protect California, but to prepare for a future presidential campaign. His public criticism of Trump, combined with his efforts to act like a national leader, suggest he is trying to build a platform on the global stage.
“He is trying to play president before earning the job,” one political analyst said. “He knows he cannot legally make deals with foreign governments, but he is doing it anyway to boost his image and show Democrats that he can stand up to Trump.”
While Newsom has not officially announced a run for the White House, many political insiders see this as a preview of what’s to come in 2028. By positioning himself as the voice of resistance against Trump, Newsom is hoping to rally support from the Democratic base and gain national attention.
Newsom’s decision to act independently on international trade is more than just a political stunt. It risks serious legal consequences, economic disruption, and a deepening of the divide between California and the rest of the country.
At a time when the federal government is working to protect American workers and rebuild the U.S. manufacturing base, Newsom’s actions send the opposite message. He is telling foreign governments that they can negotiate separately with California, even if they are in conflict with the United States.
That kind of message weakens America’s position on the global stage and creates confusion among our trading partners. It also opens the door to future legal battles that could end up in the Supreme Court.
NP Editor: The Democrats have been looking for ways to undermine Trump at every turn. But this is a lot more serious, almost a secessionist action for California. I don’t believe Newsom has the capability to pull this off, in large part because he is not respected internationally and he is very small next to Trump. But any success in this realm is an embarrassment to the whole United States, not just Trump.
