Trump calls for review of China IP policy as trade ties sour

WASHINGTON (Aug 15): US President Donald Trump asked his top trade official to consider investigating China over how it handles intellectual property, adding to the list of trade irritants between the world’s two biggest economies as they work to contain North Korea.

Trump signed an executive memorandum on Monday directing US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider investigating China over its IP policies, especially the practice of forcing US companies operating in China to transfer technological know-how.

“It’s my duty and responsibility to protect the American workers’ technology and industry from unfair and abusive actions,” Trump said at the White House. “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.”

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