washington u.s. president donald trump close decision respond consider china unfair trade practice senior trump administration official say tuesday trump consider encourage u.s. trade representative robert lighthizer initiate investigation chinese trade practice 1974 trade act section 301 official say announcement could come early week official say speak condition anonymity section 301 trade act 1974 allow president unilaterally impose tariff trade restrictions protect u.s. industries unfair trade practice foreign countries trade agreement violations discriminatory action burden u.s. commerce unite state long list grievances china trade include accusations steel dump theft u.s. intellectual property china say trade china unite state benefit side beijing will work washington improve trade relationship trump long critic chinese trade practice interest penalize beijing rise concern perceive chinese inaction rein increasingly belligerent north korea unite state press china exert economic diplomatic pressure north korea help rein nuclear missile program beijing repeatedly say influence north korea limit senior chinese official say monday link north korea nuclear program china-u.s. trade susan thornton act assistant secretary state east asia tell congressional hear tuesday new u.s. sanction aim curb north korean weapons program include measure aim chinese financial institutions could expect fairly soon section 301 use extensively 1980s combat japanese import motorcycle steel products era lighthizer serve deputy u.s. trade representative statute little use since world trade organization launch 1995. wto provide forum resolve trade dispute lighthizer commerce secretary wilbur ross complain extremely slow often take years reach conclusion geneva-based organization inherent anti-u.s. bias china foreign ministry commerce ministry respond immediately request comment chinese premier li keqiang meet michigan governor rick snyder beijing tuesday say common interest china unite state big dispute china welcome u.s. state include michigan ... enhance bilateral trade investment ... consolidate expand cooperative consensus create good development opportunities job countries people li tell snyder accord chinese government statement trump administration believe free fair trade use every available tool counter protectionism pledge allegiance free trade violate core principles ross say wall street journal opinion piece tuesday try refute arguments trump administration take protectionist stance say china europe protectionist subsidize export industries formidable tariff non-tariff trade barriers import china market economy chinese government create national champion take action significantly distort market ross write respond action trade remedy protectionist trump close decision address chinese trade practice