Trump Administration Is Said to Open Broad Inquiry Into China’s Trade Practices<br />Following the investigation, which could be completed in as little as a few months, the United States could impose steep tariffs<br />on Chinese imports, rescind licenses for Chinese companies to do business in the United States, or take other measures.<br />WASHINGTON — The White House is preparing to open a broad investigation into China’s trade practices, according to people with knowledge of the Trump administration’s plans, amid growing<br />worries in the United States over a Chinese government-led effort to make the country a global leader in microchips, electric cars and other crucial technologies of the future.<br />The two sides met on July 19 to produce a series of trade deals<br />that could be portrayed as an “early harvest” in the three months following Mr. Trump’s meeting with President Xi Jinping of China last spring at Mar-a-Lago, Trump administration officials and trade policy advisers said.<br />Still, China’s industrial ambitions — and growing frustration among American companies<br />doing business there — have become harder for United States officials to ignore.<br />American companies have tended to supply the Chinese market using factories and staff in China, instead of exports from the United States.<br />China’s export sector still contributes heavily to its economy growth despite Beijing’s efforts to diversify its economy,<br />and China represents a lucrative market for American automakers, technology companies like Apple, farmers and many others.<br />But their profits from the Chinese market are large enough<br />that many corporate executives have been loath to cooperate with United States trade officials, for fear that Chinese government ministries may retaliate against them.
