As a Korean American business owner in Southern California, I have watched with growing alarm as a new 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes threatens to devastate families, small businesses, and workers in our community. The consequences are not abstract; they are real, immediate, and deeply personal for the residents of California’s 40th congressional district.
Yet, Representative Young Kim has not done nearly enough to stand up to Donald Trump’s reckless trade war or to protect the people she was elected to serve.
The tomato tariff is going to be a direct hit to CA-40. Tomato prices are set to rise by 10% or more at grocery stores and restaurants, hitting working-class and immigrant families the hardest.
In a district where over 40% of residents are immigrants and food service jobs are the backbone of our local economy, this is a direct assault on our quality of life.
Grocery bills are already up 28% over five years. Now, tariffs could add up to $4,900 to the average family’s annual food costs in 2025, with fresh produce like tomatoes among the most affected.
Local businesses, especially restaurants, retailers, and distributors, will see their costs spike, forcing them to raise prices or cut jobs. The ripple effect will be felt in every corner of our district, from family-owned taquerias to local burger joints and beyond.
Rep. Young Kim has introduced a bill that would require the president to notify Congress 48 hours before changing tariff policy and to provide a justification report.
While this may sound like oversight, it is little more than a procedural speed bump. It does not stop the tariffs, nor does it offer real relief to families and businesses already struggling with rising costs.
Kim has not directly opposed Trump’s tariffs or called for their repeal. She has expressed “concerns” and asked for “transparency,” but has not taken a stand against the policy itself. Her bill fails to deter the President’s tariff agenda; and by her own admission, it simply asks for advance notice, not action.
Our community needs a fighter, not a bystander. We need a representative who will demand an end to these harmful tariffs, not just request a memo about them.
Thousands of jobs are at stake in California’s food, logistics, and retail sectors. The critically important ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are already seeing a 30 to 35 percent drop in cargo volume due to tariffs, threatening livelihoods up and down the supply chain.
Food insecurity will rise as working-class families are forced to choose between healthy food and other essentials. For many, this is not a political debate but a question of whether they can put fresh food on the table.
Retaliatory tariffs from Mexico could further damage California’s agricultural economy, putting even more jobs and businesses at risk.
Rep. Kim’s tepid response is not enough.
Our community deserves a leader who will:
Publicly and unequivocally oppose the tomato tariff and all harmful trade policies that raise costs for working families. Fight for real solutions to lower grocery prices and protect jobs, not just ask for more paperwork from Washington. Stand up to her own party and to President Trump when their policies hurt the people of CA-40.The tomato tariff is a test of leadership. So far, Young Kim is failing that test. Our families, our businesses, and our future are too important to settle for less.
Bomi Kong is CEO of KYLOBAL INC. in Los Angeles.
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