China launched two probes into U.S. trade practices on Friday in response to the Trump administration’s recently opened investigations into its trade partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, according to China’s Commerce Ministry.
According to The Associated Press (AP), a ministry statement expressing “firm opposition” to the American investigations stated that the probes were opened to safeguard the interests of relevant Chinese industries.
One of the investigations targets U.S. practices that China says disrupt global supply chains by restricting Chinese imports into the U.S., limiting U.S. advanced technology products to China, and restricting certain investments between the two nations.
The other probe focuses on trade barriers to Chinese green energy exports.
The ministry confirmed that the investigations are expected to take six months, with a potential three-month extension.
The decision comes ahead of a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping scheduled on May 14-15 in Beijing.
Lead Up to the Chinese Investigations
The U.S. Supreme Court previously struck down President Trump’s tariffs placed on trading partners at the beginning of his second term. On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s import duties imposed through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal.
The decision prompted the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to launch formal investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, in an effort to circumvent the ruling and place a new set of import duties.
On Mar. 16, 2026, Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative, warned during talks with the U.S. in Paris that the probes launched by the U.S. could destabilize hard-won economic relations between the two countries.
“It’s about getting to the negotiation table,” Damien Ma, director of the research center, Carnegie China, told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). “Beijing has decided long ago that it needs to have reciprocity in response to U.S. actions.”
