China was never a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, nor was it expected to be: in order to become one, the Chinese government would have had to conform to international trading standards, including protection of intellectual property. The T.P.P. was designed to make it economically attractive for Pacific rim countries to trade with each other profitably within a rules-based system precisely in order to make them less vulnerable to Chinese influence.
The Bush, Obama, and Trump Administrations all made similar efforts to deter theft of intellectual property by Chinese companies and the Chinese government, as have a number of European governments. Multilateral trade agreements are the most effective way to accomplish this. Improved information security—e.g., better defenses against computer "hacking"—also help, but each new defensive mechanism is likely to be countered with a new offensive mechanism, so the benefits tend to be transitory.
Well, nothing's worked to date. But the tariffs did have some effect. China washurting too. Their companies got hit although you didn't hear much about it here because the press only reported the damage to America that the tariffs did because they didn't like Trump. But right before Cvid, there was some deal, a partial trade move that didn't solve the issue but did move it forward. Then covid set it all back again.
You say multilateral trade agreements would stop it. How? China just ignores its promises. They're not a country of law. They stole thos eisland in the South China Sea promising not to turn them into fortresses which they now are. WTO ruled against them on issues they ignored. How can you make a deal with a country that just ignores every hand shake? The only thing country and people like that understand is force. You have to twist their arms to get their attention., That's what Trump was trying to do. If Biden gives up on it, we'll be back to square one. We'll never get them to stop. But I don't think he will stop. It will be embarrassing for him and the democrats if he tries and they start stealing more.