February 12, 2026
Nearly Half of San Antonio Exports Go to Canada; Trade Retaliation Would Hurt Businesses and Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the House floor demanding Congress reassert its constitutional authority over tariffs and end Trump’s tariffs that are a tax on families and businesses. He called on House members to vote in favor of H.J. Res. 72, a resolution that would end President Trump’s tariffs on Canada. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the resolution, and it now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Castro underscored that San Antonio is particularly hit hard by tariffs due to its tightly integrated economies with Mexico and Canada, saying, “Nearly half—48 percent—of San Antonio’s exports go to Canada, the highest share of any major city in the country. Our economy is deeply tied to North American supply chains. Thousands of San Antonians work in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy machinery, semiconductors, and medical devices—exactly the high-paying industries we want to be growing here in the United States. These companies chose San Antonio because we are highly integrated into trade networks with Canada and Mexico.”
View Congressman Castro’s Full House Floor Speech Here
Congressman Castro’s remarks, as delivered:
M. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J.Res. 72, the resolution to terminate President Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
Families in San Antonio and across this country are already struggling with the rising cost of living. The price of everything is going up—groceries, hosing, childcare, rent. When you go to the grocery store, beef prices are up 16 percent. Coffee is up nearly 20 percent.
Instead of lowering costs, the President imposed tariffs on Canada—which is nothing more than a tax on American families—and started a trade war with one of our closest allies.
Those tariffs don’t just hurt American families. They threaten jobs in places like my hometown of San Antonio.
Nearly half—48 percent—of San Antonio’s exports go to Canada, the highest share of any major city in the country. Our economy is deeply tied to North American supply chains.
Thousands of San Antonians work in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy machinery, semiconductors, and medical devices—exactly the high-paying industries we want to be growing here in the United States.
These companies chose San Antonio because we are highly integrated into trade networks with Canada and Mexico.
When tariffs go up, local businesses pay the price.
When Canada retaliates, it becomes harder for our workers to sell their products abroad.
This trade war is making life more expensive, creating uncertainty, and putting good jobs at risk.
All while the world continues to move around us.
Congress has constitutional authority over tariffs.
We must use it—here and now.
Let’s lower costs for American families, protect jobs in San Antonio and across the country, and end this reckless trade war.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back.