FAIRFAX, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in support of President Donald Trump’s ordering an investigation into China over the theft of U.S. intellectual property:
“On July 20, President Xi Jinping of China acknowledged major concerns with the lack of protection of intellectual property in China at the National Financial Work Conference, stating, ‘Wrongdoing should be punished more severely so that IP infringers will pay a heavy price.’ We agree, and U.S. patent holders should be similarly protected in China. President Donald Trump, in ordering a U.S. Trade Representative investigation into China’s theft of U.S. intellectual property, including the coercion of U.S. companies to part with those assets as the price for doing business in China, is echoing the concerns raised by President Xi.
“Intellectual property is the underpinning of innovation, and the allegation that China has engaged in IP theft has plagued U.S.-China trade relations for years. While some are concerned that prioritizing IP may cause negative trade repercussions, President Trump determination to ensure that fair and honest trade is at the root of this investigation by the U.S. Trade Representative.
“In order for international trade to work, countries must agree on the rules, and China’s past and present failure to protect U.S. intellectual property from theft has put the entire economic relationship at risk.”
