China Starts Trade Probes Against US Before Xi-Trump Summit (2)

China started a pair of investigations into US trade practices, retaliating against similar probes by the Trump administration as the superpowers stake out positions before an expected presidential summit in May.

The move, announced by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, is a direct mirror of steps US President Donald Trumptook to revive his tariff agenda after the Supreme Court last month struck down some of his duties.

“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to these actions,” a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said in a statement, referring to the so-called Section 301 investigations initiated on March 11.

Cranes offload containers from a container ship at the Port of Savannah.

Photographer: Megan Varner/Bloomberg