China has denounced a US decision to take it to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over complaints of widespread piracy and counterfeiting of US goods.
The Bush administration announced separate cases against China at the WTO over pirated copies of music and movies, and for placing market access barriers against US companies offering legitimate products.
"China expressed great regret and strong dissatisfaction at the decision of the United States to file WTO cases against China over intellectual property rights and access to the Chinese publication market," a China Commerce Ministry spokesman said in a statement.
"The Chinese government's attitude towards intellectual property rights protection has always been resolute, and its achievements obvious to all," the statement said.
"This runs against the consensus reached between the two countries' leaders as to developing bilateral trade relations and properly handling trade problems."
China regularly defends its record on fighting piracy, saying it is a developing country and needs time. But pirated movies and music discs are openly sold in shops and on street corners in Chinese cities for as little as 8 yuan (about $1) a copy.
The US move came amid congressional anger over last year's record $232 billion US trade deficit with China.