California to negotiate trade with other countries to bypass Trump tariffs

I could see the EU libs trying to do some nitpicking in their tarrifs, exempting NY/CA. Nobody else on Earth sees enough of a distinction between the two parties to care

I mean it's standard tactics to hit the base of the tariff doing party so most likely yes this may work in getting foreign governments who do TARGETED tariffs (given the ones they're subject to are across the board they may respond in the same way). In terms of applying pressure it is indeed pointless to hit California which didn't vote for Trump or this policy per se, it makes much more sense to apply pain to red states and red voters and red state companies and industries to make them squeal and their quality of life lower and their plants lay people off so they no longer think they're winning and begin to question this whole thing and to split the ranks of the group who's pushing through these things.

So yes this is both posturing to present himself as a "strong leader"(tm) who stood up to Trump when he runs in 2028 as well as to attempt to mitigate retaliation and direct it where possible elsewhere as well as of course just seeking trade deals and investment under the banner of trying to subvert tariffs.