Trump to direct Lighthizer to assess Chinese intellectual property practices
President Trump on Monday will direct U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to determine whether to initiate a Section 301 investigation into China’s intellectual property practices, according to senior administration officials. Lighthizer can do so under Section 302(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, which outlines the process by which USTR can initiate an investigation “by means other than petition,” a senior official told reporters on Aug. 12. Under Section 301, USTR may determine whether to trigger an investigation of “any...