RI rep suggests using 1663 ‘royal charter’ to circumvent Trump tariffs

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A state lawmaker from Warwick has an idea to get around President Trump’s proposed tariffs.

State Rep Joe McNamara is suggesting that governor McKee use Rhode Island’s “royal charter” to establish a “free trade zone.”

The 1663 document, granted by King Charles II, gave the governor and “all successors” the power to oversee trade with “other colonies,” but its not clear what that would mean now.

McNamara said Quonset, TF Green or the Port of Providence could be used for duty-free imports.