Flake says Trump trade policy could give China an advantage

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Monday that President Trump’s trade policies could hurt the U.S. trade stature and give China a global advantage.

The Arizona Republican called the White House’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in January “a big mistake which will haunt us for a long time,” according to CNN.

{mosads}”Those countries in Southeast Asia, we want them to be in our trade orbit, not just China’s trade orbit,” he told the East Valley Chambers of Commerce.

“And we’re giving them little choice now,” Flake said. “We have to get away from the idea that we’re the only game in town, because we’re not.”

China is not part of the TPP deal. The 11 other nations, including Japan, Mexico and Canada, are still trying to move forward with an agreement.

Flake is “concerned that the party is going down a populist route” on trade. 

A U.S. retreat from trade agreements like the TPP, means the U.S. is ”going to be left behind” giving China more chances to wield its economic power, he said. 

The Obama administration completed the TPP in October with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.

Despite dogged efforts to ratify the agreement, Congress failed to vote on a deal before Obama left office.

In the past few weeks, Trump and both Arizona senators — Flake and Sen. John McCain (R) have traded barbs on a variety of policy issues. 

On Tuesday, Trump is heading to Arizona for a rally. 

Flake also wants the United States to stick with the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Officials with the U.S., Mexico and Canada wrapped up the first round of talks on Sunday to modernize the 23-year-old agreement.

“I’m concerned that the early rhetoric of the president’s campaign was to reject NAFTA, to rip it up,” Flake said.

He said the Trump administration’s efforts to rework the three-nation deal “look better.”