Rhode Island

Rhode Island's economy is defined by its legacy jewelry and silverware industry and its evolving defense-tech sector. Providence has been America's costume jewelry capital since the 1700s, and while the industry has shrunk dramatically, the remaining firms import gold, silver, and gemstones subject to tariffs while competing with cheap Chinese imports that tariffs also make more expensive. General Dynamics' Electric Boat division has a major presence in Quonset Point, building sections of Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines using steel and specialty alloys subject to 25% tariffs. Raytheon's missile systems division in Rhode Island produces naval weapons systems with globally-sourced components. The state's commercial fishing industry — squid, lobster, scallops — faces competition from tariff-exempt countries while its exports face retaliatory barriers. Rhode Island's small size amplifies tariff impacts: the state's concentrated economy means a few thousand job losses represent a significant percentage of total employment. Brown University and URI drive a growing innovation economy, but startups dependent on imported technology face higher costs. The Port of Providence handles bulk materials (salt, petroleum, scrap) with tariff implications, though on a smaller scale than neighboring ports.