Trump tariffs could impact hundreds of billions of dollars of trade in Illinois

President Donald Trump’s plan to implement tariffs on key U.S. trading partners could affect more than $100 billion worth of goods imported to Illinois from Canada, Mexico and China.

The countries were Illinois’ top trading partners in 2023, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. A wide range of goods coming to Illinois could be affected by tariffs, including oil and natural gas from Canada, beer from Mexico and electronics from China.

Trump initially committed to imposing 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico beginning on Tuesday, including a 10% tariff on energy imported from Canada – although on Monday he announced he’d delay the tariffs on Mexico after the country’s president agreed to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Later in the day, a pause also was announced for the Canadian tariffs after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country committed to creating a special czar to combat the smuggling of fentanyl and ensuring permanent monitoring of the shared border.

Trump has criticized the three countries for allowing fentanyl to enter the country and has argued Canada and Mexico have tallied up a trade advantage over the U.S.

While Trump hopes the tariffs will punish the countries into implementing reforms and negotiating with the United States, economists generally agree American consumers will bear the costs, including in Illinois.

“Let’s call these tariffs what they are: Trump’s Taxes on Working Families. If these tariffs remain in place, it will jack up the price of groceries and goods, make gas more expensive, and raise utility bills,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi defended Trump’s decision.

“Under Democrat leadership, Mexico and Canada have gained economic advantage at America’s expense and President Trump is committed to stopping this. His policies on Canada and Mexico serve as a strong negotiating tool to enhance security and prosperity for Illinois and the U.S.,” Salvi said in a statement to Capitol News Illinois.

Illinois received $127.8 billion of imports from China, Canada and Mexico in 2023, according to DCEO. Canada is Illinois’ largest partner for both imports and exports, with the state receiving $65.6 billion of goods from the country in 2023.

Illinois is highly dependent on oil and gas from Canada, meaning consumers could be in line for higher energy and gas prices. About 72% of Illinois’ imports, or $47.4 billion, from Canada in 2023 was oil and gas, according to DCEO.

Data from the Canadian government shows Illinois also received far more energy products from Canada than any other state in 2020, with $20.5 billion of energy resources imported to Illinois. Texas was the next closest state with $5.2 billion in energy imports.

China was had the second highest number of imports to Illinois in 2023, with $43.9 billion of goods, including $27.2 billion of computers and electronics.

Illinoisians might end up paying more for alcohol and cars if tariffs are implemented on Mexican goods. Illinois received $18.3 billion of imports from Mexico in 2023, including $5.9 billion of beverages and tobacco and $2 billion of transportation equipment.

“Ultimately if Trump’s Taxes on Working Families remain in effect, they would force businesses and supply chains to pass costs onto Illinois consumers,” Pritzker said. “If prices go up and jobs are killed, we must all give credit where credit is due: Donald Trump.”

Illinois businesses could find themselves in the crosshairs of a trade war, including Walgreens, Baxter, Abbott and other health care supply companies.

“While it’s important the U.S. stand up to bad actors that are dumping products into our country, stealing intellectual property and illegally subsidizing industries, tariffs should be focused and used as a scalpel, not a sledgehammer,” Illinois Manufacturers’ Association CEO Mark Denzler said in a social media post.

China, Canada and Mexico received $37.9 billion of exports from Illinois in 2023, almost half of the state’s exports for the year. This includes a combined $3 billion of agricultural goods to China and Mexico and almost $4 billion of machinery to Canada.

Before the pause was announced Monday, Trudeau had announced retaliatory tariffs, which could have included penalties on American exports of food and metal products, according to the CBC. Illinois sent $3.2 billion of food and primary metal manufacturing products to Canada in 2023.

Several Canadian premiers also lashed out, ordering their providences’ liquor regulation bodies to stop purchasing and selling alcohol from the U.S.

“Trade is an anchor of the Illinois economy,” Pritzker said. “Illinois is the single largest exporting state in the Midwest and fourth largest exporter in the U.S. Our jobs and economic success are linked to our top two trading partners, Canada and Mexico, and also China.”

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.