Trump is expected to direct U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Monday to launch a probe into alleged Chinese violations of U.S. intellectual property rights, the official said. Trump has been trying for months to get China to exert more pressure on North Korea, but has recently expressed frustration with the lack of progress. The trade investigation could strain relations between the U.S. and China as the two countries wrestle with the unpredictable situation over North Korea. Related: Trump and China could still fall out badly over tradeIt wasn't immediately clear how China would react to the move. Related: 4 ways China could hurt North Korea's economyThe trade investigation is expected to be only one part of a multi-pronged push by the Trump administration to counter perceived Chinese trade abuses, which Trump frequently railed against as a candidate.

Source: CNN August 12, 2017 07:30 UTC