US businesses want their country to drop the idea of slapping tariffs on Chinese imports. They say the tariffs would trigger a chain reaction of negative consequences for the US economy, provoking retaliation, stifling US agriculture, goods, and services exports and raising costs for businesses and consumers.

They say the way to respond to unfair Chinese practices and policies is not by imposing tariffs or other measures that will harm US companies, workers, farmers, ranchers, consumers, and investors.

The trade groups represent everything from the high-tech industry to apparel vendors, agribusiness and auto parts importers, companies such as Apple, Alphabet - the parent company of Google - Walmart and Nike. US officials have been urged to work with like-minded partners to address common concerns with China's trade and investment policies. Unilateral US tariffs would only serve to split the United States from its allies, hinder joint action to effectively address shared challenges, and ensure that foreign companies take the place of markets that American companies, farmers and ranchers must vacate when China retaliates.

The United States has long accused China of forcing US companies to turn over proprietary commercial information and intellectual property as a condition of operating in China.