Trump close to decision on China trade sanctions – source
US president mulling imposing tariffs or other restrictions against China, source says, to counter what Trump deems unfair trade policies by Beijing
US President Donald Trump is close to a decision on how to respond to what he considers China’s unfair trade practices, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday.
Trump is considering encouraging US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to initiate an investigation of Chinese trade practices under the 1974 Trade Act’s section 301, the official said.
An announcement could come as early as this week, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Section 301 allows the president to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions to protect US industries from “unfair trade practices” of foreign countries, such as trade agreement violations, or “discriminatory” actions that burden US commerce.
The United States has a long list of grievances against China on trade, including accusations of steel dumping and theft of US intellectual property.