On Aug 18, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer formally initiated an investigation to determine whether the actions, policies and practices of the Chinese government in the fields of technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation are discriminatory and burden or restrict US trade. Based on the findings of the investigation under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, US President Donald Trump will eventually decide whether or not to impose extra tariffs or other trade restrictions on China.

The probe into China's new energy industry in September 2010 was the last the US initiated under Section 301, which it eventually withdrew after the two sides resolved the issue through negotiations, according to which the Chinese enterprises involved made certain systemic adjustments.

Sino-US economic and trade relations have indeed been fluctuating after Trump became US president, but investigation under Section 301 is aimed at not only weakening China's position in certain fields but also compromising the multilateral nature of globalization.