WTO Rules Against Trump’s China tariffs, but the Problem Remains the Tariffs Themselves

The World Trade Organization ruled today that President Trump violated global trade rules by unilaterally imposing tariffs on over $350 billion worth of Chinese goods. CEI Senior Fellow Ryan Young says, while the WTO decision is not a surprise, the bigger problem remains the economic and personal toll of the tariffs themselves.

“It is no surprise the WTO found that President Trump’s China tariffs violate its rules. Ironically, the President cannot appeal this decision because he continued the Obama-era policy of crippling the WTO’s Appellate Board. 

“The China tariffs are still bad policy. The purpose of the tariffs was to force the Chinese government to reform its illiberal policies ranging from trade barriers to technology theft to its human rights record. Not a single reform has been credibly made.

“In the short term, the Trump tariffs are raising prices and limiting access to important goods during a pandemic and a recession. There are even tariffs on needed personal protective equipment such as face masks. There is no justification for such measures.

“In the long term, President Trump’s blatant disregard of a rules-based trading system means countries like China will be less likely to follow the rules themselves. His policies are contrary to the national interest and harm the pandemic response. President Trump should rescind the tariffs regardless of what the WTO says.”