Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Tuesday that he backs the tariffs on Chinese goods that President Donald Trump proposed over the weekend, though he is concerned it could backfire.
"I have some sympathy for Trump’s lack of patience with the Chinese," Grassley said in his regularly scheduled phone call with reporters, according to Politico. "Enough is enough. It’s time to strike a strong, enforceable deal so that whether you’re farmers or businesses or consumers, you can get some certainty."
Trump called for a 25 percent tariff on about $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, raising a current 10 percent tariff, in response to the country’s “backsliding” during trade talks, according to American officials.
Grassley said that Trump should be “applauded,” as he is the first president to take a tough stance with Beijing on trade.
"I urge the Chinese negotiators to bring these talks to a halt, with a successful close, so we can avoid prolonged tariffs, which we know have an impact on the U.S. economy," he said.
The senator concluded that the Trump administration must reach an agreement that is strong, enforceable and addresses the president’s concerns about Chinese trade practices, specifically the country’s subsidies for industries that are controlled by the state and on protections for American intellectual property.
"When all the dust settles over these negotiations or these tariffs, we have to show that this was a worthwhile negotiation.”
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.