President
Trump's decision to order some $50 billion in tariffs on a wide range
of Chinese imports, despite the risk of setting off a wider trade war,
met with bipartisan approval Thursday, reflecting the growing
disillusionment with Beijing on the part of many American officials and
business leaders.
The
order was the largest move yet in Trump's rapidly unfolding effort to
use tariffs — taxes on imported goods — to counter what he sees as
unfair trade practices by other countries. It aimed to stop what U.S.
officials describe as a years-long effort by China to steal American
technology.
The
move came on the same day that administration officials announced a
significant scaling back of another major trade initiative — Trump's
announcement two weeks ago of tariffs against imported steel and
aluminum. Officials announced that countries responsible for more than
half of U.S. steel imports and a similar share of aluminum would be
exempted, more tightly focusing that weapon on China as well.
