California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday that he was negotiating deals with other countries to ensure his state would be exempt from retaliatory tariffs in Trump's escalating trade war, Axios reported. Newsom, who is seen as a potential candidate for US president in 2028, is seeking to insulate California from its negative impact. "Donald Trump's tariffs do not speak for all Americans, and I have directed the California government to look for new opportunities to expand trade and to remind trading partners around the world that California remains a stable partner," Newsom said in a video released on Friday. He called California "a pillar of the American economy" and stressed California's commitment to maintaining "stable trade relationships" with the world. Newsom wrote on Twitter that California is "ready to talk to our global trading partners," adding that the state is not afraid to use its market power "to fight back against the biggest tax hike of our generation."