Trump trade probe will 'poison' relations, Chinese media says

The White House’s decision to order a probe into Chinese trading practices will 'poison' relations between the two countries at a critical time, state-run newspaper China Daily has warned.

Donald Trump was widely expected to order the launch of an investigation into alleged intellectual property theft, tasking US trade representative Robert Lighthizer with the job of overseeing the probe.

The move from Washington could lead to tariffs being imposed on Chinese exports to the US, something Trump had promised during his election campaign.

The newspaper insisted that China-US relations would be put under strain if the administration followed through with the investigation.

"Instead of advancing the United States' interests, politicising trade will only exacerbate the country’s economic woes, and poison the overall China-US relationship," the publication said.

Increasing tension between the US and North Korea has pushed the two superpowers' relationship further into the spotlight, with Trump and his team calling on Xi Jinping's government to take a hard line with Pyongyang.

"Given Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs, it is impossible to look at the matter without taking into account his increasing disappointment at what he deems as China’s failure to bring into line Korea."

The total trade relationship between the US and China is valued at over $600bn a year, with the US estimated to be running a trade deficit of around $300bn with the Asian giant.