[JURIST] US Trade Representative Susan Schwab [official profile] said Monday that the United States is filing a case against China [JURIST news archive] at the World Trade Organization (WTO) [official website; JURIST news archive] for lax enforcement of copyright violations and trademarks. Schwab said that the US will also file a second challenge to China's existing trade barriers, which has hurt the sale of US-produced movies, music and books. The two cases will enter a 60-day consultation [WTO backgrounder] period during which the US and China will attempt to resolve their differences through negotiation. If the bilateral negotiations reach an impasse, WTO hearing panels will decide the case.

In February, Schwab announced that the the US was bringing a case against Chinese subsidies [WTO backgrounder] at the WTO. The Bush administration has come under increasing pressure to address Sino-US trade relations after the Democrats took control of Congress. In 2006, the total US trade deficit amounted to $765.3 billion dollars, with China accounting for $232.5 billion. AP has more.