Washington: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a probe into China’s “unfair” trade practices and “theft” of American intellectual property, drawing a sharp reaction from Beijing which warned that it “will not sit idle” in the face of punitive US actions.
Mr Trump signed a memorandum that directs US trade representative Robert Lighthizer to determine whether an investigation is needed into alleged unfair Chinese trade practices. Shortly after Mr Trump signed the directive, Mr Lighthizer said his office will launch a probe and, “if needed, take action to preserve the future of US industry”.
Mr Trump’s action comes amid rising tensions between the two nations over provocative missile tests and threats by Beijing’s ally North Korea. “The theft of intellectual property by foreign countries costs our nation millions of jobs and billions and billions of dollars each and every year. For too long, this wealth has been drained from our country while Washington has done nothing,” Mr Trump said.
“Today, I’m directing the US trade representative to examine China’s policies, practices, and actions with regard to the forced transfers of American technology and the theft of American intellectual property,” Mr Trump said. “As President of the United States, it’s my duty and responsibility to protect the American workers, technology, and industry from unfair and abusive actions,” he said.
Mr Trump said his administration will stand up to any country that unlawfully forces American companies to transfer their valuable technology as a condition of market access.
Following Mr Trump’s order and his remarks on crackdown on unfair trade practices, China’s commerce ministry issued a stern statement voicing “serious concern” and warning that any punitive measures will harm bilateral trade relations. “If the US side takes actions that impair the mutual trade relations, disregarding the facts and disrespecting multilateral trade rules, China will not sit idle,” the statement said.
China “is definitely going to adopt all appropriate measures to vigorously defend” its lawful rights and interest, it said. The country has “always been paying high attention to intellectual property right protection, continuously perfecting the legislation”, and that the progress it has made on that front is “obvious to all”, the commerce ministry said.
Mr Trump said the US will combat the counterfeiting and piracy that destroys American jobs and enforce the rules of fair and reciprocal trade that form the foundation of responsible commerce. “We will protect forgotten Americans who have been left behind by a global trade system that has failed to look — and I mean look — out for their interests. They have not been looking out at all,” he said.
