President Trump announced on Tuesday morning that he will impose a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of goods imported from China "containing industrially significant technology" and introduce new limits on Chinese investment in U.S. high-tech industries.
Said Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul:
"I hope the actions on intellectual property theft mean the mixed signals we've seen from the Trump administration on China are coming to an end.
"Punitive tariffs are always a last resort, but if Beijing is unable or unwilling to stop intellectual property theft and other unfair trade practices that cost American workers jobs and American businesses hundreds of billions of dollars every year, tariffs are the best leverage we have.
"We must vigorously defend our market and interests with every tool available, including tariffs, investment restrictions, and actions at the World Trade Organization."
Scott Paul wrote about ongoing trade negotiations with China in a recent New York Times op-ed.