Explainer | What are Section 337 investigations, and why is China so concerned about them?

The Section 337 investigation is one of the United States’ most potent legal weapons for policing intellectual property disputes. Conducted by the US International Trade Commission (USITC), they can lead to the total exclusion of a product from the American market.

And the tool is often used to target China: more than 40 per cent of the Section 337 investigations completed in 2024 involved a Chinese company, according to USITC data.

In September, the commission launched a probe into smart televisions made by Chinese electronics maker TCL. Just a month earlier, it began investigating telecommunications devices made by TCL and three other Chinese manufacturers.

What is a Section 337 investigation?

The USITC, an independent federal agency, has the power to launch investigations into unfair trade practices involving imported products under Section 337 of the United States’ Tariff Act of 1930.