U.S. Chamber to Trump: Don’t put tariffs on China

WASHINGTON — America’s largest business lobby is warning President Donald Trump against slapping big tariffs on Chinese imports. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is sounding the alarm as the White House weighs whether to punish China for forcing U.S. companies to hand technology to Chinese companies.

“Simply put, tariffs are damaging taxes on American consumers,” U.S. Chamber President Thomas Donohue said in a statement Thursday. Citing reports that the administration is considering tariffs worth $30 billion a year, Donohue noted that such a tax on Chinese imports would wipe out much of the windfall American families are getting from December’s tax cuts.

Donohue also warned that sanctions against China “could lead to a destructive trade war with serious consequences for U.S. economic growth and job creation.”

Instead of using tariffs, Donohue said, the administration should “work with the business community to resolve the real and justifiable concerns raised by Chinese trade practices.”

The Trump administration has given no indication that it plans to let up on its pressure on China over trade.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to Argentina for meetings next week of the Group of 20 major industrial countries. Officials said that they planned to make China’s moves away from a market-oriented economy a major topic of discussion at the meetings.

“The trip to the G-20 will focus on advancing the Trump administration’s global economic agenda to level the playing field for U.S. companies and workers,” Mnuchin said in a statement.