Hayride Piece: LA Gov. Landry wrote the Trump Admin seeking tariff exemptions for Hyundai

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(The Center Square) – Gov. Jeff Landry privately urged the Trump administration to carve out tariff exemptions for Hyundai’s planned $5.8 billion steel facility in Louisiana, even as he publicly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court for striking down President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Upon the announcement of the court’s decision Friday, Landry on social media wrote, “It’s disappointing to see the Supreme Court strike down President Trump’s tariffs. There can be no free trade without fair trade.”

But in a letter to White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, Landry asked for “targeted relief” from the tariffs executive order for companies “actively investing capital on American soil while their projects construct.” He said an exemption would help keep Louisiana’s push into steel manufacturing on track while still advancing “American industrial independence.”

“By providing this exemption, we can ensure that Louisiana’s advancement in the steel industry … remains strong while continuing to align with the broader goal of American industrial independence,” Landry wrote.

The request reflects broader concerns among Louisiana officials and industry leaders that tariffs were increasing costs for large industrial projects and potentially jeopardize investments.

Hyundai previously warned that expanded tariffs on steel and aluminum could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of its planned Louisiana steel mill. A previous investigation by The Center Square showed that state economic development officials have also sought relief for other major projects, including chemical plants and manufacturing facilities, saying tariff costs threaten their financial viability.

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Even as the legal battle unfolds, Louisiana officials continue to promote large-scale manufacturing investments as key to the state’s economic strategy. Securing tariff flexibility, they say, may be critical to ensuring those projects move forward.

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