REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang
The People's Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit, January 18, 2011.
- Trump is proposing new 25% tariffs on Chinese imports.
- A hearing on the proposals starts in Washington on Monday.
- The new tariffs "dramatically expand the harm to American consumers, workers, businesses, and the economy," the US Chamber of Commerce said in written testimony.
- Furniture, lighting products, tires, chemicals, plastics, bicycles, cradles, and Chinese seafood are among the imports set to be hit by the new duties, Reuters reported.
The Trump administration's proposed $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports will force Americans to pay more for everything from cradles to seafood, businesses have warned.
Monday is the first session of a six-day hearing in Washington on the proposed 25% tariffs, which are part of the Trump administration and US Trade Representatives' efforts to put pressure on Beijing.
The US Chamber of Commerce, which represents a wide range of American Businesses, said in written testimony for the hearing that the new tariffs will "dramatically expand the harm to American consumers, workers, businesses, and the economy."
Past rounds of sanctions have mainly targeted Chinese industrial machinery and intermediate goods, but the proposed tariffs could affect thousands of consumer products by late September, Reuters reported. Furniture, lighting products, tires, chemicals, plastics, bicycles, cradles, car seats for babies, and Chinese seafood are all set to be hit by the new duties.
The Trump administration lacks a "coherent strategy" to address China's theft of intellectual property and other harmful trade practices, the US Chamber of commerce said according to Reuters' report. It called for "serious discussions" with Beijing.
The USTR received over 1,400 written comments from businesses about the Trump administration's plan. Most businesses argued the tariffs will cause harm by raising costs on products and services.
The largest bicycle brand in the US, Huffy, said a 25% tariff poses a "serious threat to the company." It sells 4 million Chinese-made bikes per year.
"There is no other country in Asia or Europe that can provide the volume Huffy requires as China is the largest bicycle producer in the world," Bill Smith, the CEO of Huffy Corp, said in his submission.
Graco Children's Products, which makes car seats for babies, said there would be an increase in customers buying second-hand items for their children.
"[The tariffs] will have a direct negative impact on our company, American parents, and most importantly the safety of American children."
Trump administration officials and their Chinese counterparts are expected to meet later this week in Washington to discuss their trade dispute.