China warns of retaliation as Don orders trade probe

China warns of retaliation as Don orders trade probe

BEIJING Trade tensions between the United States and China heated up on Tuesday as Beijing warned that it “will not sit idle” if a US probe into its intellectual property practices leads to sanctions. President Donald Trump’s decision to order the investigation comes on top of strains between the two nations over how to handle Beijing’s ally North Korea. Trump on Monday signed a memorandum directing US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to determine whether Chinese policies hurt American investors or companies — with retaliatory measures a possible outcome. “We will stand up to any country that unlawfully forces American companies to transfer their valuable technology as a condition of market access. We will combat the counterfeiting and piracy that destroys American jobs. Washington will turn a blind eye no longer,” Trump said, vowing to safeguard copyrights, patents and other intellectual property that are “vital to our security and to our prosperity”. China’s commerce ministry issued a statement voicing “serious concern” and warning that trade protectionism will definitely harm bilateral ties. “If the US take actions that impair the mutual trade relations, disrespecting multilateral trade rules, China will not sit idle,” it said. AFP