Cisco, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Juniper Networks have issued a last-ditch appeal to the Trump administration to protect key products from being included on a list of $200bn in new tariffs on Chinese imports, amid growing anxiety in corporate America over the escalating trade war with Beijing. 

The four US technology companies said in a joint letter to Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, that tariffs on networking equipment would increase prices for consumers and delay investments — possibly leading to job losses for workers and reduced dividends for shareholders. 

“If USTR were to impose a 10-25 per cent additional duty on networking products and accessories, it would cause broad, disproportionate economic harm to US interests, including our companies and US workers, our customers, US consumers, and broader US economic and strategic priorities,” the letter, sent on Thursday, said.