Rep. Cole: Trade War Could Prove 'Damaging' to the US

Getting the United States involved in a trade war with allies and adversaries around the world could prove "damaging," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said Thursday.

House Republicans understand why President Donald Trump has been making steps toward enforcing tariffs, Cole told MSNBC's "Morning Joe," but a trade war "would be damaging and undo a lot of the good work the president is responsible for in terms of the tax cuts, deregulatory reform."

There have been "bad actors" like China and some friends who "take advantage over us because we've been lax in this area," but still, a trade war would be dangerous, Cole said.

He pointed out, when Trump announced his plans for steel and aluminum tariffs, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady compiled a letter, signed by more than 100 Republican House members who said they were concerned about the move.

"I was one of them that raised concerns about this and pushed back pretty hard," Cole said. "I think that's continuing. Obviously, we've seen Sen. [Bob] Corker's efforts in the U.S. Senate. Look, the Republican party historically has been a free trade party at least since the Second World War. That idea is not going away."

Cole said he does agree it is time for the United States to renegotiate in some areas, such with the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is "20-plus years old."

"These are friends and allies," he said. "I think you treat them differently. But, again, I think just because somebody is your friend and ally politically and militarily done mean they don't try to take advantage economically."

Cole noted his congressional district includes the leading producer of tires in the world, and a number of years ago, the Chinese were dumping steel for use for tires, so there were retaliatory practices then.

At the same time, he said, the size of the trade deficit the United States has with China is not sustainable in the long term, and "privately, they will tell you that themselves. A lot of countries around the world would tell the same thing."

Cole said he does think, however, it would be a mistake for the United States to leave the World Trade Organization, as it "provides some stability."

"I would like it to act more quickly," Cole said. "I'm not sure if it's quite as fair as it ought to be, but it sort of beats the dog eat dog international trading system, in my view."

Cole also spoke out about EPA Director Scott Pruitt, who is from his state. He said he thinks it is a decision between Pruitt and Trump over whether he should have resigned, but the allegations about the director raised a lot of questions.

"The personal activities of looking like you're bending the rules to favor yourself personally, those things are troublesome," Cole said. "I think using staff for things that are clearly personal, you know, soliciting positions for a spouse, that seems to be beyond the pale."

He also spoke out about the president's zero-tolerance border policy, calling it "unsustainable" because you "don't separate families."

"I think the president beat a fast retreat because the reaction was so negative," Cole said. "He was right to do that."

Every effort should be made to reunite the families, but it is complicated, he added.

"At the end of the day the country is never going to allow a policy like that to stand nor should it, in my view," said Cole, but he noted, in some cases, "the families are using the children as an excuse to get here."

• Payrolls Seen Rising 195K, Unemployment Holds at 3.8 Percent Despite Trade War
• China Won't 'Fire the First Shot' in Trade War With US