Trump himself, joined by supportive business executives, complained bitterly about the nation's trade deficit and accused China of stealing America's prized technology. The U.S. reported a $375 billion deficit with China last year, which Trump has blamed for the loss of American jobs and closing of plants. To target China, Trump dusted off a Cold War weapon for trade disputes: Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, which lets the president unilaterally impose tariffs. With the arrival in 1995 of the World Trade Organization, Section 301 fell largely into disuse. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoyed an amiable summit nearly a year ago at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Source: ABC News March 22, 2018 04:41 UTC