Alabama does big business with 3 countries amid tariff threats

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - We’re On Your Side taking a look at how tariffs could impact Alabama businesses and the prices on the things you buy.

Alabama is a big trade partner with China, Canada and Mexico.

Experts say the prices won’t just affect consumers, but also Alabama businesses that use foreign parts.

Mexico, Canada and China all rank in the top five trading partners with Alabama.

According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, the state imported more than $8 billion in goods from Mexico in 2023, more than any other country. Alabama companies sell a lot of transportation equipment to all three countries, according to a University of South Alabama professor. He points to the state’s large auto manufacturing sector.

“Longer it goes on, the more disruptive they’re gonna be. We’re so connected with Mexico and Canada. So much of our industry is dependent, and they’re dependent on us, that a few days, a week to get this worked out, probably we won’t notice much of anything. But if it goes on much longer than that, we’re gonna to start to see increases in prices,” said Peter Simonson, a business professor at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

WBRC reached out to Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and the Alabama Department of Commerce who are all monitoring the developments with the president’s tariffs, but have not received a response.

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