Business groups criticized the Trump administration Friday for formally imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and warned the move would backfire and hurt the U.S. economy.
“Imposing tariffs places the cost of China’s unfair trade practices squarely on the shoulders of American consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers. This is not the right approach,” warned Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue.
The chamber and other trade associations have long opposed such actions, arguing that the U.S. economy and consumers benefit from free trade with access to cheaper goods and the ability to sell to foreign markets. Groups urged the administration to remain open to dealing with China.
“Manufacturers certainly have concerns that tariffs will cause more problems than they solve, but we also recognize that the administration may intend to use them as a negotiating tactic to bring China to the table and achieve larger goals. A trade war never benefits anyone,” said National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons.
The $50 billion in tariffs announced Friday mainly hit industrial sectors such as aerospace, information and communications technology, robotics, industrial machinery, new materials, and automobiles. The list does not include goods commonly purchased by American consumers such as cellular telephones or televisions, the administration stressed.
The administration announced its initial list in April. Friday’s announcement expands it “based on extensive interagency analysis and a thorough examination of comments and testimony from interested parties.”
The Trump administration has said tariffs must be imposed to counteract China’s unfair trade practices, such as its failure to respect U.S. intellectual property rights and its move to force companies to manufacture in China as a condition of selling goods there.
