GRANVILLE, Tenn. - President Donald Trump's eyeing of new tariffs for imported vehicles and auto parts is rolling into Tennessee's U.S. Senate race, with Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen both voicing concerns.
"We are watching it very closely," Blackburn said in an interview Saturday in Granville during a Senate campaign swing on the Upper Cumberland Plateau. "We'll continue to work through that issue like we are the other tariff issues."
Bredesen spokeswoman Alyssa Hansen, meanwhile, said in a statement the former governor believes "broad tariffs are, by their nature, like taking a big axe to a problem that needs a scalpel - the blow may be aimed at a real issue but usually creates lots of other damage in the process."
Trump's surprise order to investigate auto imports for potential trade penalties on national security grounds came last week.
It immediately sparked worry from businesses and trade groups, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donoho, as well as sharper criticism from a number of Republican lawmakers, including retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who called it a "dangerous course [that] should be abandoned immediately."
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Republican Gov. Bill Haslam also publicly fretted over the impact on Tennessee- based manufacturers, many of whom depend on a global supply chain.
The president, meanwhile, is scheduled to be in Tennessee on Tuesday. He is hosting a fundraiser for Blackburn, a Brentwood congresswoman seeking Corker's seat. Trump also plans to hold a rally in downtown Nashville.
The issue for Trump is what he believes is unfair competition from overseas and the impact on American manufacturing. He campaigned on that in rust-belt states that proved key to his successful 2016 election bid.
But over nearly four decades, Tennessee has become a major U.S. hub for the manufacture of autos, light trucks and SUVs. The list includes Volkwagen's Chattanooga plant, Smyrna-based Nissan's manufacturing facility, a General Motors facility in Spring Hill and dozens of state-based vehicle parts and components suppliers.
The state now has more than 135,000 workers in the automotive industry, including suppliers, in 917 locations, blanketing 88 of the state's 95 counties, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development's website.
Blackburn noted she earlier spoke to top Trump administration officials about the president's proposed steel and aluminum tariffs' impact on Tennessee manufacturers, as well as about Chinese officials' threats to retaliate against U.S. agricultural products, including pork and soybeans, which are important staples produced by Tennessee farmers.
"I raised concerns early on about the steel tariffs and I've met with [U.S. Commerce] Secretary Ross about any impact this might have on agricultural products," she said.
Her congressional district includes Clarksville, home to a new South Korea-based LG plant which, when open, will produce washing machines.
The steel tariffs remain in effect for some countries. A temporary exemption for Mexico, Canada and the European Union is supposed to expire June 1.
"We continue to look at that with the autos and also the steel tariffs that would affect manufacturing," Blackburn said. "It would affect the washing machine manufacturing - we look at it all. We're continuing to work on it all."
That includes pork and soybeans, she said, adding "we think it is important to keep that dialogue open and we continue to do so. So with the concerns this week, we kind of added it to the list of things we're working on."
Asked if she would bring the issue up with the president, Blackburn said, "I think I've never hesitated to bring up things that are items of concern to Tennesseans - and I will continue to do so."
As governor, Bredesen helped bring the Volkswagen plant to Chattanooga.
Campaign spokeswoman Hansen said Bredesen believes the tariff issue "is an example of what can happen when talking points are turned into policy. These proposed tariffs have the potential to become a real problem for workers in Tennessee and their families."
The situation looked brighter last week with regard to China and American farm products. The president tweeted twice about a possible trade deal with China and its benefit for American farmers.
"China has agreed to buy massive amounts of ADDITIONAL Farm/Agricultural Products - would be one of the best things to happen to our farmers in many years!" he tweeted.
A few hours later, Trump followed up with a second tweet: "Under our potential deal with China, they will purchase from our Great American Farmers practically as much as our Farmers can produce."
Blackburn said one thing she's learned is "that everything ends up being a negotiation point.
"We've certainly seen that with the steel tariffs that he mentioned early on and then started issuing the exemptions. So we're, like I said, the thing that we can do to best serve is be active in keeping those lines of conversation open and continuing to work on the issue. Bring the concerns that Tennesseans have to the U.S. Trade Representative, to the Secretary of Commerce, to the White House - make those concerns known."
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.