beijing china take action defend interest unite state damage trade tie ministry commerce say tuesday u.s. president donald trump authorize inquiry china allege theft intellectual property trump move first direct trade measure administration china come time heighten tension north korea nuclear ambition though unlikely prompt near-term change commercial tie u.s. trade representative robert lighthizer year look whether launch formal investigation china policies intellectual property white house u.s. industry group say harm u.s. businesses job unite state respect objective facts act prudently abide world trade organization pledge destroy principles multilateralism unidentified spokesman china ministry commerce say statement u.s. side ignore facts disrespect multilateral trade principles take action harm side trade interest china absolutely sit watch inevitably adopt appropriate measure resolutely safeguard china lawful right ministry say unite state treasure cooperation favorable state china-u.s. trade relations warn u.s. action damage tie would harm side trade relations company china continuously strengthen administrative judicial protections intellectual property ministry add china policy force foreign company turn technology chinese joint venture partner failure crack intellectual property theft longstanding problems several u.s. administrations trump administration officials estimate theft intellectual property china could worth much 600 billion experts china trade policy say long lead time could allow beijing discuss issue raise washington without see cave pressure threat reprisals china repeatedly rebuff attempt previous u.s. administrations take action ip practice insist rigorously protect intellectual property state news agency xinhua say u.s. investigation unilateralist bar fangs hurt side jacob parker vice president china operations u.s.-china business council say trump memo begin process expect decision move forward administration 60-90 days think much fast year parker say come term bilateral investment treaty would good way get china address ip issue add surprise company hone crisis communications internal plan process since election rhetoric come campaign lead take proactive action prepare aware ready type action go forward investigation likely cast shadow u.s. relations china large trade partner trump ask put pressure north korea give nuclear programm trump suggest would amenable go easy china trade aggressive rein north korea china say issue trade unite state link north korea problem ken jarrett president american chamber commerce shanghai say statement tuesday trade north korea link investigation measure necessary step president executive order reflect build frustration chinese trade market entry policies particularly pressure american company part technologies intellectual property exchange market access say chinese company operate unite state face pressure china say defend interest u.s. harm trade tie