The Trump administration is preparing to impose $60 million in tariffs on Chinese products this week; the ostensible reason is China has been stealing intellectual property from American businesses.

On Monday, The Washington Post reported that four senior administration officials confirmed that the tariffs will be announced on Friday. On Tuesday, Bloomberg added that the tariffs will be implemented on products as disparate as consumer electronics and clothing. Trump has contended that the products to be targeted were developed by stealing trade secrets from U.S. companies or taken as a prerequisite for access to China’s massive market.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is heading an investigation into China’s treatment of intellectual property as well as China’s policies that may force American companies to reveal their technological know-how in order to trade with China. Bloomberg added, “Lighthizer has been probing China’s IP practices under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The law allows Lighthizer, at the president’s discretion, to take broad steps, including tariffs, to correct against any harm against U.S. businesses.”

The U.S. currently has a $375 billion deficit with China; after Trump implemented tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, China’s foreign minister said China would offer a “justified and necessary response” to any efforts to incite a trade war. On Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China will not make foreign companies transfer technology to domestic ones; it will also protect intellectual property.

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