American business groups have urged the US not to impose more tariffs on necessary Chinese imports. They warn new duties would be harmful to US businesses, especially those that rely heavily on products that only China can provide.

The plastics industry has urged the administration not to push ahead with tariffs that target fluoropolymers, of which Teflon is an example, saying the new tariffs would cause severe and irreparable damage to the US fluoropolymer industry.

Such duties are expected to harm more than 4,000 businesses and jeopardise the tens of billions of dollars the industry contributes to the US economy. The chemical industry says its companies are reliant on imported products that only China offers.

Manufacturers say complex supply chains could take up to five years to rebuild if China was no longer a viable supplier. The US Chamber of Commerce has expressed its staunch opposition to tariff escalation, saying it would be US businesses and customers who would foot the bill of the hidden, regressive taxes. The body says the time is now for serious bilateral discussions that can identify solutions and forestall unintended impacts.

The US is willing to impose tariffs on all Chinese products imported to the United States, with the total value of goods targeted reaching 500 billion dollars.