Tariffs have some "negative impact" on the country, Sen. Tom Cotton said Tuesday, but he thinks Americans recognize that some sacrifices may be necessary to keep the United States safe.
"I think all Americans recognize some sacrifice may be called for if we want to defend ourselves and our interests in the long term," the Arkansas Republican told CNN's "New Day" in reference to tariffs on China, adding it has mounted an "all-out trade war" against the United States for four decades.
"We want to preserve America's role as the world's most dominant economy and the world's superpower," said Cotton, adding that China has stolen intellectual property, spied on major universities, and has built its military to one that is supposed to bypass the U.S. military as the world's most dominant.
Former Vice President Joe Biden will speak in Iowa Tuesday, and CNN noted he plans to attack President Donald Trump on trade policy and to say America's farmers have been crushed by the ongoing trade war with China. Cotton insisted the trade issues are not Trump's fault.
Meanwhile, Cotton said he would not include terms for Huawei or ZTE as part of the trade negotiations with China.
"Huawei is an arm of the Chinese communist party," said Cotton. "To allow Huawei to do business with the United States would be like shipping steel, aluminum, uranium to the Soviets in the Cold War. It is a threat to our military, as well. I think the administration has taken the right path on Huawei, and I'd encourage them to stay on that path."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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