Cotton pitches tariffs on China to make it pay for ‘unleashing’ COVID-19

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) called for consequences against China following the CIA’s conclusion that COVID-19 most likely originated from a Chinese lab leak. The agency’s shift in position came after new director John Ratcliffe was confirmed by the Senate.

Cotton praised Ratcliffe for making the findings public, stating, “We have to make China pay for unleashing this plague on the world.” He proposed tariffs on strategic goods and repealing China’s permanent most-favored-nation trade status.

Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of transparency in restoring public trust in the CIA.

Cotton also criticized President Trump’s decision to revoke security details for several former officials, citing threats from Iran. He urged the president to reconsider, saying it is better to be “safe than sorry.” Former national security adviser John Bolton, one of those affected, called the move part of a “retribution campaign.”