washington three top democratic senators rare show bipartisanship wednesday urge u.s. president donald trump stand china prepare launch inquiry beijing intellectual property trade practice come days senate democratic leader chuck schumer press republican president skip investigation go straight trade action china certainly go say schumer statement senators ron wyden oregon sherrod brown ohio also urge trump rein china tensions washington beijing escalate recent months trump press china cut steel production ease global oversupply rein north korea missile program source familiar current discussions say trump expect issue presidential memorandum come days cite chinese theft intellectual property problem european union japan germany canada express concern china behavior intellectual property theft u.s. trade representative ustr robert lighthizer would initiate investigation trade act 1974 section 301 allow president unilaterally impose tariff trade restrictions protect u.s. industries source say unclear whether probe would result trade sanction china beijing would almost certainly challenge world trade organization wto chinese embassy washington say statement reuters china oppose unilateral action trade protectionism form spokesman china ministry commerce tell reporters beijing thursday china put strong emphasis intellectual property right wto members respect rule organization hope positive momentum cooperation continue follow recent bilateral trade talk say commerce ministry spokesman gao feng u.s. section 301 investigations lead trade sanction since wto launch 1995 1980s section 301 tariff levy japanese motorcycle steel products could merely leverage bilateral negotiations jam bacchus former wto chief judge ustr official say china intellectual property probe trade lawyers say wto jurisdiction investment rule china requirements foreign company transfer technology joint venture partner allow sanction proceed outside wto dispute settlement system bacchus argue unite state obligation turn first geneva-based institution resolve trade dispute add obligation wto enforce intellectual property right fully explore lighthizer trump commerce secretary wilbur ross complain wto slow resolve dispute bias unite state threat come time trump become increasingly frustrate level support beijing pressure pyongyang give nuclear missile program trump say past china would get good treatment trade unite state act forcefully pyongyang beijing say influence north korea limit china counter trade two nations benefit side beijing will improve trade tie senior chinese official say monday link north korea nuclear program china-u.s. trade wyden top democrat senate finance committee write lighthizer urge action stop china pressure u.s. tech company give intellectual property right wyden state oregon home several company could make case regard intellectual property right china include nike inc flir systems inc. rare bipartisan display democrats back trump china trade probe