WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday formally launched an investigation into China’s alleged theft of US intellectual property, a widely expected move following a call from President Donald Trump earlier this week to determine whether a probe was needed.

The probe is the administration’s first direct measure against Chinese trade practices, which the White House and US business groups say are bruising American industry. “After consulting with stakeholders and other government agencies, I have de­­termined that these critical issues merit a thorough investigation,” US Trade Rep­­­­­­­re­sentative Robert Ligh­­t­­­hizer, the nation’s top trade negotiator, said in a statement.

Trump repeatedly railed against Chinese trade practices on the campaign trail, but as president he had not taken significant action until this week.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2017

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