The US President told Reuters on Wednesday that "we have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon". Reports say this is the clearest indication yet that the administration of Donald Trump will take retaliatory trade action against China.

Trump did not specify what he meant by a "fine" against China. They launched a Section 301 investigation into Chinese intellectual property and technology transfer last year. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded last week that the US investigation is based on its own laws and regulations, and will compromise the international trade framework. The Ministry said China will take necessary measures to protect its enterprises' interests, if the US sticks to unilateral protectionist trade practices.