Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyCrenshaw looms large as Democrats look to flip Texas House seat The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error MORE spoke out against "trade wars" on Friday after President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE imposed tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to respond with its own tariffs on U.S. goods.

“Trade wars are a tax on Americans. They have severe consequences for many employers and inevitably cost Americans jobs,” the Utah GOP Senate hopeful said in a statement.

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Romney said trade wars are particularly punishing for agriculture, which is a sector in Utah the former GOP presidential contender said is “already under duress from wildfire, drought, and challenging public land policies.”

“Our national objective should be to open new markets, negotiate free and fair trade agreements, and to employ American innovation and productivity to out-compete the world,” Romney said.

My thoughts on the trade war. pic.twitter.com/uegY4eUGjR — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 6, 2018

Romney has at times offered praise and criticism for the president dating back to his 2012 presidential bid.

The former Massachusetts governor has softened his criticism toward Trump in recent months, offering his thanks after the president endorsed him in the Utah Senate race.

The Trump administration on Friday slapped 25 percent tariffs on as much as $34 billion in goods imported from China.

Chinese officials accused Trump of “the biggest trade war in economic history” with the move and soon announced that retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods would immediately go into effect.