Top congressional Republicans on Thursday attacked US President Donald Trump’s announced tariffs on steel from the European Union, Canada and Mexico, warning that punitive measures should be targeting China instead of America’s allies.
“I disagree with this decision,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, the most influential Republican in Congress, said in a statement.
“Today’s action targets America’s allies when we should be working with them to address the unfair trading practices of countries like China,” he added, saying he intends to work with the president on “better options” to help US workers and consumers.
“These tariffs are hitting the wrong target,” added House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady, saying Europe, Mexico and Canada “are not the problem — China is.”
As the announced tariffs prompted threats of retaliation, and an immediate riposte from Mexico, several lawmakers in Trump’s Republican Party urged a continuation of the…