<p>Newly-appointed Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday defended Trump&rsquo;s China policy and called the president a &ldquo;free trader&rdquo; despite trade policies that appear to be protectionist. ;</p>
<p>Trump&rsquo;s proposed tariffs on China &#8211; which could reach $60 billion &#8211; are meant to force Beijing to stop stealing America&rsquo;s intellectual property, said Kudlow. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;China technology transfer is China&rsquo;s stealing of American intellectual property rights, the Chinese counterfeiting of American goods, the Chinese tariffs and barriers have got to stop,&rdquo; ;Kudlow told radio host John Catsimatidis. President Trump &ldquo;regards himself as a free trader,&rdquo; continued Kudlow, but &ldquo;the path to free trade must be to correct unfair trading practices, of which, frankly John, China is guilty.&#8221;</p>
<p>Trump has also hit China with tariffs on solar panels and washing machines in addition to the recently announced 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum. China has reacted to the offenses by proposing $3 billion in reciprocal tariffs, including taxes that will disproportionately affect farmers in states that voted for Trump. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I must say, as someone who doesn&rsquo;t like tariffs, I think China has earned a tough response,&rdquo; said Kudlow during an interview with CNBC. &ldquo;A thought that I have is that the United States could lead a coalition of large trading partners and allies against China or to let China know that they are breaking the rules left and right.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Kudlow publicly criticized Trump&rsquo;s steel and aluminum tariffs when they were originally announced, but has since accepted them as part of the president&#8217;s negotiating strategy.</p>
<p>&ldquo;My problem with the steel and aluminum tariffs&hellip;it might do harm to American users of steel and aluminum,&rdquo; said Kudlow, adding that he was &ldquo;relieved&rdquo; when Trump proposed excluding Canada, Mexico, and Australia. &ldquo;I just don&rsquo;t like blanket tariffs,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;and I don&rsquo;t think you should punish your friends, you should try to punish your enemies, in international affairs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Kudlow also blamed the recent 1,400-point drop in the stock market on the &#8220;US-China tariff argument.&#8221; ;</p>
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<p>Kudlow, a former CNBC host, was appointed earlier this month to replace Gary Kohn, who resigned abruptly after Trump announced the tariffs on aluminum and steel. ;</p>