Business

Portland may boycott goods and services from Texas amid backlash over the state’s restrictive abortion law. The Texas Lt. Gov. responds by calling Portland a ‘dumpster fire.’

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler stands in front of the marble entrance to City Hall in Portland Oregon
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler at City Hall.

  • Portland said it may boycott products from Texas in response to a restrictive abortion law.
  • The boycott would last until “Texas withdraws its unconstitutional ban,” the city said.
  • Portland said its legal counsel was looking into whether a ban would be legal.
  • See more stories on Insider’s business page.

The Portland City Council on Wednesday plans to vote on an emergency resolution to ban city purchases of goods and services from Texas amid a backlash over the state’s restrictive abortion law.

“The ban will be in effect until the state of Texas withdraws its unconstitutional ban on abortion or until it is overturned in court,” Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office said in a statement posted on Friday.

The Supreme Court last week delivered an unsigned 5-to-4 decision declining to block a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Portland, the biggest city in Oregon, would also ban municipal staff from travelling to Texas on official business if the resolution passes.

“We urge other leaders and elected bodies around the nation to join us in condemning the actions of the Texas state government,” Portland’s announcement said.

The city said its legal counsel was looking into whether a ban would be legal.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Saturday shot back, calling Portland a “dumpster fire.”

“It’s comical that Portland mayor @tedwheeler is worried about Texas when his city defunded the police and he had to ask citizens to ‘take back the city,'” Patrick said on Twitter. “Texas is solidly #prolife and Texans support law enforcement. Meanwhile, Portland is a dumpster fire and Texas is thriving.”

Friday’s announcement didn’t say how much business Portland currently does with Texas. Insider has reached out to the city for additional information.

A quick search of Portland’s current three-volume 1,904-page budget returned only one mention of Texas. But that was a reference to a highway improvement project, which included SW Texas Street in Portland.

The Texas economy is the 9th largest in the world, the Texas Economic Development Corporation said in January.

Texas exports about $315.9 billion worth of goods and services to countries outside the US each year, according to the US Trade Representative.

The state’s biggest exports are petroleum and coal products, followed by computer and electronic products.

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