US Chamber of Commerce attacks Trump tariffs

By Barry Eitel

SAN FRANCISCO (AA) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest federation of businesses, announced Monday it was launching a campaign criticizing the tariff policies of President Donald Trump.

The attack is especially sharp because the group is traditionally a close ally of the Republican Party, but it has decided to advocate against economic policies supported by the Republican president due to fears of a global trade war.

Over the past few months, the White House has announced steep tariffs on goods imported from China, Canada, Mexico, the European Union and elsewhere. Many of the other nations have announced retaliatory tariffs on American imports in response.

The Chamber said it is worried the back-and-forth will raise prices for consumers and squeeze American businesses.

“Tariffs are beginning to take a toll on American businesses, workers, farmers and consumers as overseas markets close to American-made products and prices increase here at home,” Chamber CEO Thomas Donohue said in a statement. “Tariffs are simply taxes that raise prices for everyone. Tariffs that beget tariffs that beget more tariffs only lead to a trade war that will cost American jobs and economic growth.”

The campaign outlines how the tariffs will impact jobs and prices on a state-by-state basis. In Texas, for example, the Chamber estimates $3.9 billion of the state’s exports will be subject to retaliatory tariffs, especially pork and whiskey.

On Sunday, a retaliatory tariff $12.6 billion of imports from the U.S. was imposed by Canada.

The Chamber, which represents 3 million businesses of all sizes, previously praised Trump. The group was very supportive of the massive tax code overhaul legislation that was passed by Republican lawmakers and Trump at the end of 2017.

Trump’s most vocal supporters were not apparently moved by the Chamber’s critique.

“[The] Chamber of Commerce has run the last four presidents like dogs, [but] not this one,” Fox Business Network television host Lou Dobbs tweeted about the campaign Monday.