POOL/Reuters
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has reportedly been trying to help seven companies in his home state avoid getting caught in the crosshairs of President Trump’s trade war with China, despite publicly supporting the administration’s tariffs on Chinese imports. The New York Times reports that Graham has written seven letters to the U.S. trade representative for companies seeking tariff relief, writing that tariffs would “economically harm consumers and stifle economic growth in South Carolina.” According to the newspaper, Graham has written more of these relief letters than anyone in Congress and at least four companies have received some kind of relief. The companies reportedly include Mitsubishi Chemical America, Standard Textile, and paper manufacturer Archroma. In a March statement, Graham wrote that he was “very pleased and supportive” of Trump’s efforts against Chinese “unfair trade practices.” “This pushback by President Trump is long overdue as a nation,” he wrote. “If we continue this policy, China will over time change the way they do business which will be a Godsend for the American worker.”