‘The appropriate tools’

The House has approved a bill to strengthen the CFIUS law, and the bill will likely be considered by a HouseSenate conference committee for a Senate-approved defense measure.

Asked about the administration’s shift, Mr. Mnuchin told reporters, “It is not a question of whether we are focusing on China or we are not focusing on China” but an issue of using all means to address trade disputes with Beijing.

“For those who want to say this is being weak on China, the answer is no,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “The question was, what were the appropriate tools?”

He also insisted Wednesday that the Trump administration is not pursuing a protectionist approach and is actually trying to prod other countries to lower their trade barriers.

“Should Congress fail to

Washington and Beijing are sparring over China’s attempts to supplant U.S. technological dominance, through cyber-theft and policies that force American companies to hand over technology in exchange for access tothe Chinese market.

On July 6, the United States is set to impose tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports — a sum that could reach $450 billion if Beijing refused to yield and retaliated with its own sanctions. In response, China is prepared the same day to slap tariffs on billions in U.S. exports, including soybeans — a direct threat to Mr.