China has hit back at a US decision to file a WTO complaint against it for copyright abuse, warning that the move was ill-informed and would damage trade relations between the two countries.
The US has filed a case at the World Trade Organisation over widespread copyright piracy in China, a practice which US companies say deprives them of billions of dollars each year.
The US has also lodged another complaint at the WTO accusing China of restricting distribution of foreign music, films and books.
'Piracy and counterfeiting levels in China remain unacceptably high,' US Trade Representative Susan Schwab told a news conference in Washington, brandishing a fake Chinese DVD of the Ben Stiller hit 'Night at the Museum'.
In a further Chinese reaction to the announcement, China's top copyright official said the US did not understand the huge efforts Beijing had undertaken to combat the problem.
