The Trump administration is considering whether to initiate an action that could lead to the United States imposing tariffs and other trade restrictions on Chinese imports.
U.S. news outlets say President Donald Trump will direct U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to begin an investigation of China's trade practices under a section of the 1974 Trade Act. The section is aimed at protecting U.S. industries from unfair trade practices of foreign countries.
Administration officials say a formal announcement could be made within the next several days.
President Trump and members of his economic team have long accused China of engaging in trade practices that have harmed American businesses, from excess steel imports to theft of intellectual properties. In an opinion piece published Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross accused China, as well as Europe, of subsidizing their exports through such means as "grants, low-cost loans, energy subsidies, special value-added tax refunds" and other means.
Despite its complaints, the Trump administration had emphasized cooperation with Beijing during its first six months in office. But bilateral trade talks last month failed to end with an agreement, and the administration has become increasingly frustrated with China's apparent reluctance to pressure North Korea to curb its nuclear and ballistic missile program
川普政府正在考虑是否要采取可能导致美国对中国进口商品施加关税等贸易限制的行动。
据美国媒体报道，川普总统将指示美国贸易代表罗伯特·莱特希泽根据1974年贸易法的301条款对中国的贸易行为展开调查。301条款的目的是保护美国产业不受外国不公平贸易行为的伤害。
美国政府官员说，正式消息几天内可能就会宣布。
川普总统和他的经济团队一直指责中国倾销钢材和窃取知识产权等贸易行为都对美国商业造成了伤害。美国商务部长威尔伯·罗斯星期二在华尔街日报上发表评论文章，指责中国和欧洲通过“补助金、低息贷款、能源补贴和特别增值税退款”等手段补贴出口。
尽管如此，川普政府任期头六个月还是强调与北京的合作。然而，上个月的美中双边贸易会谈没能达成协议，而且川普政府觉得，中国显然是不愿对朝鲜施加压力，以控制朝鲜的核武器和弹道导弹项目，这种情况也让川普政府越来越感到气馁。