Utah

Utah's booming economy — the fastest-growing state for much of the past decade — faces tariff headwinds just as its tech and manufacturing sectors accelerate. The 'Silicon Slopes' tech corridor from Salt Lake City to Provo hosts hundreds of software and hardware companies that import servers, components, and manufacturing equipment. Goldman Sachs' Salt Lake City campus and other financial operations face indirect impacts from trade uncertainty. Utah's mining industry produces gold, copper, and critical minerals at Kennecott (Rio Tinto), and while mineral tariffs create mixed effects, mining equipment imports are more expensive. L3Harris and Northrop Grumman have significant Utah defense operations dependent on global supply chains. The state's agricultural sector is modest but noteworthy: Utah's tart cherry orchards face retaliatory tariffs, and its beef cattle operations in the western deserts compete in export markets threatened by retaliation. Utah's outdoor recreation industry — centered on ski resorts and national parks — sees higher prices on imported equipment and gear. The state's strong population growth means housing construction depends on imported materials (steel, lumber, hardware) at tariff-inflated prices, worsening affordability challenges.