American businessmen have come out overwhelmingly against the move by the Trump administration to impose more punitive tariffs on China in September. These businessmen were among those who took part in public consultations about the administration's plan to bash Chinese imports with higher tariff rates.
Most of the more than 1,400 written comments submitted to the office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer show that U.S. firms want no more tariffs slapped on China since the current round of tariffs imposed in July are already causing them grave harm.
Most of the 1,400 comments said Trump's new China tariffs will cause harm and higher costs for a vast range of products exported to China. On the other hand, a very small minority like the tariffs and ask these be extended to other products, as well.
The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC), the largest lobbying group in the USA, is incensed the upcoming round of tariffs will be bad for everyone in the country.
A written testimony from USCC presented to a hearing said USTR's proposed tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports will greatly increase the harm done to American consumers, workers, businesses, and the U.S. economy.
USCC said Trump does not have a coherent strategy to counter China's illegal trade practices or to solve China's theft of intellectual property. It called for serious discussions with Beijing.
Six days of public hearings on the proposed punitive tariffs of up to 25 percent began early this week in Washington. The previous rounds of U.S. tariffs sought to protect American consumers by targeting Chinese industrial machinery, electronic components, and other intermediate goods and not daily necessities needed by Americans.
The tariffs due for imposition in September, however, will directly hit thousands of consumer products causing inevitable price hikes. They target Chinese bicycles, furniture, seafood, tires, chemicals, and plastics, among many, many others.
Among the hundreds of U.S. firms against the tariffs is the Internet Association, which represents companies such as Facebook Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc. The association said the tariffs will inflict disproportionate economic harm on American internet companies.
Westinghouse Electric Co LLC, the top U.S. producer of the nuclear fuel, said it relies on China for zirconium and zirconium powders. These materials are essential for tubes used in nuclear fuel assemblies found at nuclear plants in Utah, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
Renowned baby bottle maker Evenflo Feeding said the proposed Trump tariffs will hit manual breast pumps and will cause disproportionate economic harm to American interests.
