Why China Tariffs Might Not Impact Montana Much

If President Trump’s talk of tariffs on Chinese goods has you worried, here’s a little morsel of news that might soothe your Montana-loving heart: We’re in the bottom spot when it comes to importing stuff from China.

Yep. Recent trade data shows that only 1% of Montana’s out-of-state purchases are from China, making us the least China-dependent state in the country. Meanwhile, states like Nevada are drawing in 26% of their foods from China. We’re the kid in class who didn’t do the group project but somehow got an A+ in self-sufficiency.

So what do we import? A whopping 93 percent of our goods come from Canada. That’s mainly thanks to our oil refineries, which are chugging away on Canadian crude. Put another way, if there’s a nation we need to focus on when it comes to trade policy, it’s the one we share a border with.

Read More: Montana Is Hurt The Most By The Tariffs

All of this means that Trump’s proposed tariffs on China likely won’t shake up our local economy nearly as much as they could jostle things on the other side of the border. California and Texas may see pricing changes to come, but Montanans likely won’t see much change at the local hardware store or feed store.

But before we start doing celebratory donuts in the wheat fields, keep this in mind: global trade is complicated. What goes on with Canada or other trading partners could still leave a mark on our bottom line. For now, at least, Montana is exporting to China more than importing. This keeps us a trade partner with them, but not as reliant on cheaply made crap other states.