U.S.launches trade investigation against China regardless of WTO rules On August 14,U.S.President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum that directed U.S.trade representative Robert Lighthizer to“investigate any of China’s laws,policies,practices,or actions”that“may be harming American intellectual property rights,innovation or technology development”under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.Section 301,once heavily used in the USlaunches trade investigation against China regardless of WTO rules On August 14, USPresident Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum that directed UStrade representative Robert Lighthizer to “investigate any of China’s laws, policies, practices, or actions ” that “may be harming American intellectual property rights, innovation or technology development ”under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Section 301, once heavily used in the