US President Donald Trump [official website] signed a presidential memorandum [text] on Thursday calling for the US Trade Representative [official website] to develop a list of proposed tariffs against goods from China.

The trade representative has 15 days to publish the list of proposed tariffs, which will undergo a period of notice and comment. After the notice and comment, the trade representative will implement and publish the final tariff increases against China’s goods. The trade representative will also pursue a dispute settlement with China in the World Trade Organization (WTO) [official website]. The trade representative will also propose actions to address China investment in US industries and technologies.

The tariffs have been justified due to the results of a trade representative report [text, PDF], which investigated China’s trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The report states that China restricts US companies from investing in China and forces technology transfers from US companies to Chinese entities. The report also states that China has made unauthorized intrusion into, and theft from, computer networks of U.S. companies.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Trump announced [JURIST report] tariffs against imports of aluminum and steel.