Polis signs order to fight Trump tariffs hurting Colorado

DENVER – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Monday directing state agencies to combat the economic effects of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which he described as reckless and damaging to key state industries.

The order, issued in coordination with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), establishes the Colorado Tariff Burden Reduction Task Force. The task force will identify strategies to mitigate the impact of tariffs on sectors including aerospace, agriculture and health care.

“We are taking action to protect jobs and keep Colorado’s economy thriving,” Polis said in a statement. “Tariffs do not work, and we will continue to prove that what Americans and Coloradans need most is certainty and stability, not whiplash policies that drive up the cost of groceries and goods.”

Eve Lieberman, executive director of OEDIT, said the agency’s work under the order will include data collection and policy development to help Colorado businesses adapt. “We are committed to empowering the state and our partners to collectively respond to changing federal policies and protect Colorado’s thriving economy,” she said.

Polis joined a group of Democratic governors taking similar actions, including Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Kathy Hochul of New York, Tina Kotek of Oregon and Bob Ferguson of Washington.

Trump’s tariff decisions, Polis said, have created volatility across industries. In his executive order, the governor called on state agencies to analyze the scope of the financial burden on consumers and manufacturers and recommend solutions to reduce uncertainty.

Colorado’s aerospace industry, one of the largest in the country, is particularly vulnerable. The state is first in the nation for aerospace job concentration and second in total aerospace employment, with over 55,000 employees across approximately 2,000 companies. In 2024, Colorado exported $500 million in aerospace parts and imported $1 billion. Major trade partners include the European Union, Brazil, France, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland and Germany.

Tariffs also pose a threat to Colorado’s trade relationships with Mexico and Canada, the state’s top two export markets. In 2024, Colorado exported $1.7 billion in goods to Mexico and $1.6 billion to Canada. Tourism from those countries is also a key economic driver, with nearly 400,000 combined visitors to Colorado in 2023 generating nearly $250 million in economic impact.

Pritzker issued a similar order in Illinois, directing state agencies to assess how tariffs could disrupt food supplies, public health, infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

Polis has long criticized Trump’s trade policies, warning that tariffs will increase costs for consumers and businesses. A recent Yahoo Finance/Marist poll found that more than 80 percent of Americans are concerned about the impact of Trump’s tariffs on their personal finances.