Charles and David Koch, the billionaire and powerful American brothers, are funding a multi-million dollar campaign against President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.
Three political groups backed by the brothers say they will use advertising, lobbying and grassroots campaigns to promote the benefits of free trade.
Brothers David and Charles run Koch Industries, one of the largest private firms in the world. Their move comes just days after Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico.
The two brothers' company has interests in many fields, from oil pipelines to paper for desks. According to Koch Industries' website, for millions of Americans, the words Koch brothers and political activism go hand in hand. In the past, the Koch brothers have funded groups that deny climate change and attack unions and labor rights, but have also pushed for justice reforms and made colossal donations to the American Civil Liberties Union. Analysts say that Trump and the Koch brothers are not natural rivals, but the president's determined intervention in trade seems to have affected their interests quite a bit.
Political groups funded by the brothers ask the president to cancel the new tariffs. Their millionaire campaign shows deep concern among business groups, traditionally Republican supporters, about the new tariffs.
