AFP, WASHINGTON:  The United States on Tuesday stepped up its trade confrontation with China, ordering an investigation into imports of aluminum sheet worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

For the first time since 1991, the Commerce Department said launched the investigation on its own initiative, rather than responding to a request from a US company.

The department said it opened the probe into possible dumping and inappropriate subsidies of “common alloy aluminum sheet” from China, which may be harming US industry.

“President Trump made it clear from day one that unfair trade practices will not be tolerated under this administration, and today we take one more step in fulfilling that promise,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

“We are self-initiating the first trade case in over a quarter century, showing once again that we stand in constant vigilance in support of free, fair, and reciprocal trade.”