BEIJING: China’s commerce ministry said on Saturday that China expressedregret at the United States for filing a challenge at the World TradeOrganization, adding that it has always respected WTO rules.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said onFriday that the USTR had filed a request for consultations with China atthe WTO to address “discriminatory technology licensing agreements”.

China has been consistent in highly valuing the protection of intellectualproperty, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

China has taken strong measures to protect the legal rights and interestsof both domestic and foreign owners of intellectual property, the ministrysaid.