Local industry wants answers on Chinese tariffs

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A local business welcomed U.S. Sen. Rand Paul for a round table discussion focusing mostly on how trade uncertainty with China is affecting their business.

Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems employs 35,000 employees.

But, due to labor cost, only 2,000 employees are in the state.

With the tariffs on Chinese imports, trade is an issue affecting the business.

Paul said multiple businesses in the Commonwealth have said the tariffs have had a similar impact on their business.

“Our farmers depend on trade, bourbon distillers, hard wood, automobile sales, automobile parts. I would say there is at least 10 or 15 big industries in Kentucky that all depend on trade, and they are all giving me the same message, ‘When are we going to get an agreement with China?’” Paul said.

Business representatives for Sumitomo said not knowing what is coming next with trade and tariffs is “killing us.”