China yesterday reacted harshly to a US decision to take it to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over piracy and copyright protection, saying it would "seriously damage" bilateral co-operation and harm business ties.
The statement from China's commerce ministry followed the announcement by the US that it was lodging two cases with the WTO on intellectual property rights protection and market access for US movies, DVDs, books and music.
The decision to file the cases represents an ambitious attempt by the US to force politically sensitive changes to China's tight media controls.
The response struck a significantly more combative tone than previous Chinese reactions to other trade disputes with the US, which appeared to accept that some tensions were part of the rough and tumble of being a global trading power.
Wang Xinpei, a commerce ministry spokesman in Beijing, said the WTO action was "against the consensus reached between the two countries' leaders on developing bilateral trade relations and properly handling trade problems". - (Financial Times service)
