Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2019-10-23

Duration: 00:55:59

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Economy | Tariff | International trade | Agriculture | China

Contributors:

• Williams, Natasha Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Trump, Donald Speaker
• Bowser, Greg Interviewee
• Fowler, Don Interviewee
• LaCour, George Interviewee
• Koray, Faik Interviewee
• Yerby, Danielle Speaker
• Yerby, Ryan Speaker
• Clinton, Jim Speaker
• Lyford, Joyce Speaker
• Luke, Anna Kate Speaker
• Lawrence, Robert Speaker
• Monroe, Jim Speaker
• Vasser, Mark Speaker
• Harper, Jim Speaker
• McQuain, Sandra Speaker
• Lamartiniere, Phillip Speaker
• Duncan, Robert Speaker
• Barnes, Stephen Panelist
• Brown, Andy Panelist
• Poole, Scott Panelist
• Newsome, Saul Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from October 23, 2019, features Natasha Williams leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the impact of the Trump Administration’s trade war with China in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Greg Bowser of the Louisiana Chemical Association; Don Fowler of AFCO Industries, Inc.; George LaCour of G&G Farms; and Dr. Faik Koray, the chairman of the LSU Department of Economics. The audience members then discuss the impact of the tariffs on their businesses in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, and retail. A panel of experts then joins the audience members to answer their questions. The panelists are: Dr. Stephen Barnes, an economist and the executive director of the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Andy Brown, the assistant commodities director at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation; Scott Poole, the COO of RoyOMartin; and Saul Newsome, an attorney with Newsome International Law. They discuss: how Louisiana is faring in the trade war with China; the impact of the tariffs on the ports in Baton Rouge and New Orleans; mitigation strategies; using the revenue collected from the tariffs to help impacted businesses; the state of the wood industry; how the Louisiana Legislature can help impacted industries; the United States’ free trade agreements with other countries; and the importance of diversifying Louisiana’s economy. This episode was recorded at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center in Alexandria, Louisiana.