Lacey Beaty

Just 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term, Beaverton is already feeling the blowback.

Reckless tariffs and political chaos aren’t staying in Washington — they’re landing squarely on local jobs, businesses and families.

In our community, major employers like Nike, Columbia and Intel have long been the bedrock of prosperity. Yet on Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day,” when new tariffs went into effect, Nike and Columbia each lost nearly $10 per share. That’s not liberation; that’s economic sabotage.

If the goal was to bring well-paying jobs home, Trump’s “plan” is sorely misguided. Tariffs imposing over 100% duties on foreign goods don’t protect American workers — they isolate us. They drive up costs, cripple local businesses and make U.S. products less competitive abroad.

Let’s be honest: the jobs that companies offshore are not the $70,000-a-year factory positions of America’s golden age. They’re low-wage jobs, sustainable in Southeast Asia but not here. Trying to force those jobs back with tariffs only makes goods five times more expensive — and that doesn’t even account for the massive costs of relocating production.

If Trump were serious about rebuilding American manufacturing, he would have launched a strategic, thoughtful plan years ago. Instead, we get chaotic, on-again, off-again tariff wars that destabilize industries and cost real people — right here in Beaverton — their economic security.

The real purpose of these tariffs isn’t economic recovery. It’s political theater, stoking xenophobia and rewarding billionaire friends. Take Charles Schwab, for example. After Trump abruptly lifted some tariffs, Schwab reportedly made $2 billion from market chaos — while everyday investors took the hit. That’s not economic patriotism; that’s legalized looting.

And when companies like Nike and Intel falter, the effects ripple out: layoffs, stagnant growth, fewer opportunities for our neighbors. International companies looking to invest now think twice about entering an America that’s slamming its doors on global trade.

Tariffs are nothing more than a regressive tax on every American. When combined with cuts to vital services, they represent a massive wealth transfer from working families to the ultra-rich. Beavertonians deserve better.

Here in Beaverton, we’re doing the opposite of isolationism. We’re strengthening ties with the world through sister city partnerships and global outreach. We’re investing in homegrown businesses and encouraging innovation that connects us — not cuts us off.

We believe the future belongs to cities and communities that choose collaboration over fear, opportunity over division. National trends may be unsettling, but at the local level, we’re planting the seeds of resilience, connection, and prosperity.

Trump’s America-first rhetoric may close doors — but Beaverton is throwing them wide open. We know that the strongest communities aren’t built by fear; they’re built by friendship, partnerships, and a clear-eyed commitment to a better future.

While Washington plays political games, Beaverton will keep doing the real work — building a future where everyone belongs, and everyone has the chance to thrive.

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Lacey Beaty is the mayor of Beaverton.