U.S. Opens Section 301 Probe Into China

President Donald Trump said his administration has the legal authority to strike vessels near Venezuela accused of carrying drugs and is "totally prepared" to target alleged traffickers on land, saying he would likely notify Congress if land strikes are undertaken. Separately, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced a Section 301 investigation into whether China complied with the 2020 'Phase One' trade agreement, examining purchase and market-access commitments and whether China's actions have harmed U.S. businesses, farmers and innovators. The China probe could lead to tariffs or other remedies and was announced days before a highly watched meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an APEC summit in South Korea. China pushed back, saying it "firmly opposes" the investigation and contends it has fulfilled its Phase One obligations. These developments follow earlier reporting that the administration was preparing a Section 301 inquiry into prescription-drug pricing and reflect broader U.S. pressure on drugmakers and trading partners over pricing and trade practices.