6/4/2018

COMMERCE/GOP/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Groups backed by powerful Republican donors Charles and David Koch said on Monday [6-4-18] they will champion free trade and oppose tariffs with a multimillion-dollar campaign that puts them on a collision course with President Donald Trump. The embrace of free trade principles by major Republican donors comes as Trump pursues aggressive measures against trading partners from China to Canada and U.S. allies in Europe, in line with his campaign pledge to pursue better trade deals. An infusion of money into media, grassroots mobilization, lobbying and policy analysis into the domestic debate on free trade could embolden Republican candidates in the November congressional elections to part ways with the president on the issue. Republican lawmakers, already grumbling about some of Trump’s trade initiatives, outright condemned the Commerce Department announcement last week on impending tariffs on steel imports and aluminum to be imposed on the European Union, Canada and Mexico. In a statement, the Koch-backed groups said they would push Trump to lift those steel and aluminum tariffs, the recent tariffs on solar panels and washing machines as well the proposed tariffs for imports from China.”

-Reuters Staff, “Free Trade Puts Republican Megadonors on Collision Course With Trump,” The New York Times online, June 4, 2018