WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration said here on Saturday that President Donald Trump will direct on Monday the U.S. trade representative (USTR) to determine whether to investigate China's trade practices, triggering concerns that Washington may take unilateral moves harming China-U.S. trade and economic ties.
The USTR Robert Lighthizer would consider whether to probe China's trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act, senior administration officials said, but they declined to say when the USTR's decision would be made.
If Lighthizer decides to go ahead with an investigation, the United States would first consult with China and the investigation process could take as long as a year, officials said.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has stressed the importance of China-U.S. trade ties and urged U.S. authorities to abide by World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in its trade measures. Enditem
