The National Association of Manufacturers on Friday called on the White House to pivot away from using tariffs against China, saying they had succeeded in forcing the issue of Beijing’s unfair policies but that the steadily escalating trade conflict the trade barriers are causing would harm the economy if they persist.
[China: US is ‘firing at the whole world’ with tariffs]
“Tariffs … have not and will not solve the existing problems in China. Tariffs will bring retaliation and possibly more tariffs. No one wins in a trade war, and it is America’s manufacturing workers and working families who will bear the brunt of continued tariffs. Manufacturers in the United States succeed when the rules are clear and fair and markets are open. The United States has China’s attention, and we must seize the moment and soon,” said NAM President Jay Timmons.
Manufacturers have long chaffed at China’s policies, which the U.S. claims involve coercing companies that seek to do business in China to turn over technology. But they have opposed trade barriers, arguing they harm the supply chains the industry needs. Timmons said that the current moment was an “unparalleled opportunity to stop these practices at their root” if the U.S. would pursue a strategic route that involves re-starting talks between the countries.
[Related: Trump’s trade war escalates as tariffs slam Chinese imports]
“China has reaped the rewards of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft, exploiting loopholes in decades-old agreements,” he said. “In the absence of a modern, enforceable agreement, China cheats. Manufacturers want to see the administration get China back to the negotiating table as soon as possible in order to pursue a trade agreement that will redefine the U.S.–China economic relationship for the better.”
The long-boiling conflict between the U.S. and China heated further on Friday when the Office of the United States Trade Representative placed $34 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods and said it was considering a further $16 billion within the next two weeks. President Donald Trump has indicated he may push tariffs as high as $500 billion overall.
The Chinese promised retaliation. calling the U.S. move “typical trade bullying” and the current conflict “the largest trade war in economic history.”
