Warnock Presses U.S. Trade Representative on the Impact Trump’s Trade Policy Is Having on Georgians

Senator Reverend Warnock pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration's trade policies are affecting Georgia families already struggling with rising costs

90% of the costs from Donald Trump's tariffs have fallen on American consumers and businesses

Senator Warnock: "You and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices-a fact that study after study confirms and that is just basic common sense"

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee's International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Subcommittee, pressed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration's trade policies are affecting Georgia families already struggling with rising costs. Greer's appearance before the committee comes as President Trump threatens new tariffs amid a worsening affordability crisis.

"You and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices-a fact that study after study confirms and that is just basic common sense," said Senator Warnock.

President Trump's reckless tariff strategy has already cost American households more than $1,000 dollars in 2025 and is estimated to cost them another $1,300 this year because of higher prices for groceries and gasoline. An analysis conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that 90% of the costs from President Trump's tariffs have been paid by American consumers and businesses.

In previous Senate Finance Committee hearings, Senator Warnock has pushed Ambassador Greer for assurances that investments in Georgia's economy would remain a priority at USTR. Senator Warnock has long demanded that Ambassador Greer consider the devastating economic toll of the Trump administration's tariff policies on American families already struggling amid the affordability crisis.

Watch the Senator's full remarks HERE

See below a transcript of Wednesday's hearing exchange

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): "Thank you, Chair Crapo.

"Donald Trump promised, 'on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again.' Instead, he's made life more expensive for everybody. That's even before his illegal war of choice sent energy prices through the roof. According to the Tax Foundation, Trump's tariffs cost households $1,000 last year, and will cost them another $1,300 this year. The New York Fed found that in 2025, 90 percent of the economic burden from the tariffs were ultimately paid by American consumers and businesses, and a separate Fed study concluded what Americans already know just by going to the grocery store. The tariffs raised prices for families and contributed to core inflation.

"Welcome, Ambassador Greer. Despite this mountain of evidence, you and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices-a fact that study after study confirms, and it's just basic common sense. Everybody sees it; we're feeling it.

"So, here's my question: Has the USTR ever produced any rigorous peer-evaluated study refuting the fact that the president's tariffs have contributed to inflation, or is your rebuttal to these conclusions just based on vibes, people's feelings, politics?"

Ambassador Jamieson Greer (JG): "So, no, we don't do vibes, Senator. So, the Council on Economic Advisers, they've done analyzes. We have seen, in fact, in the last month, inflation drop by 0.4 percent, core goods to 2.6 percent. Quite a contrast under Biden time with 9 percent inflation. Eggs have gone down by 28 percent year on year."

SRW: "My question…"

JG: "Do you want the data, sir?"

SRW: "Yeah, I want an answer to my actual question."

JG: "Well, I have data. I am trying to give it to you."

SRW: "My question is: Have you ever produced a peer-evaluated study refuting this evidence?"

JG: "I literally have the data I'm prepared to read to you from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has serious economists. Year on year, the price of eggs has gone down 28 percent. Smartphones have gone down 12 percent. Butter has gone down 8.7 percent."

SRW: "That's not my question."

JG: "I thought you wanted to know about the prices. They're down."

SRW: "That's not my question. The point is, is that tariffs contributed to inflation. Prices are higher than they were when the president came into office, and tariffs made it worse. People all over Georgia know that, businesses know that. And I'm asking you, I guess the answer to that is no. There's no peer evaluated rigorous study refuting this, giving me item by item what the price of eggs is doesn't take seriously the situation."

JG: "That's what Americans care about. They care about these prices, and they're down."

SRW: "So, how about this? Within 60 days, will the USTR-since you seem convinced that this is working and that tariffs have not driven up inflation-can you produce a formal, rigorous study, say within the next 60 days, that disproves what all Americans and economists believe to be true about the clear link between these tariffs and price increases? Can you produce that?"

JG: "Sir, we have substantial data we'll provide for you. I'm happy to sit with you and talk about this because I don't think a five-minute colloquy does it justice. I'm happy to come and talk to you. Everything in the grocery cart comes from America produced here or Canada-Mexico duty-free."

SRW: "So let's move on to one of the president's claims. He implemented these tariffs to create what he promised would be a 'manufacturing boom.' Meanwhile, we've lost at least 75,000 manufacturing jobs since this president has taken office. How many net manufacturing jobs should we expect to see created by the end of this term because of these tariffs? Keep in mind that we're already at a net negative of 75,000."

JG: "So, in terms of data, so this year in 2026 we've had an average increase per month of 3,000 manufacturing jobs. In 2024, last year of Biden, there was a negative 15,000 jobs on average per month lost. So, we're already we've righted the ship on this, and now we're in positive territory, which is where we want to be."

SRW: "How much of that construction is due to data centers?"

JG: "You want to talk about construction now? Okay. So, factory construction has gone up. The employment in factory construction has gone up to 83,000 which is a huge benefit for our construction. A lot of this factory, some is for computing, some is for data, things that that can…"

SRW: "So, do you expect to be at a net positive by 2030? Because right now, we're at a net negative."

JG: "Yes, because after COVID, manufacturing jobs went back up as one would expect when the economy opened back up, and then it plummeted. By 220,000 jobs under Biden, we stabilized it last year. Now we're net positive again. So, I expect that trend to continue if these policies continue."

SRW: "We're out of time, brother. Chair, let me just say why this is important. I'm talking to business leaders all across Georgia, talking to consumers. One example is a company where they've had to lay off folks because they need a special type of steel that we don't make, and that steel is now subject to a 50 percent tariff. I could go on and on. I'm all for manufacturing jobs, but these tariffs are raising costs, and everybody seems to know that except the Trump administration. Thank you."

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