WTO case against China piracy "very possible"-USTR

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) The United States could bring a World Trade Organization case against China in the next few months if Beijing does not respond to concerns the United States has raised about its protection of intellectual property rights, a US official said today Assistant US Trade Representative Tim Stratford told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission that Bush administration discussions of a case against China for copyright piracy were at a very advanced stage.

''If the particular concerns we are raising with the Chinese are not resolved, I think it's very possible'' the United States could take action at the WTO in coming months, he said.

REUTERS SI BST2120