Washington, August 14:

The US asked World Trade Organisation (WTO) to mediate a copyright trade dispute with China, saying bilateral talks have failed to close loopholes that allow counterfeiters to flourish.

It marked the third time in less than a year that the US has sought a WTO dispute settlement panel to help resolve trade frictions with the leading emerging superpower, whose balloo-ning trade surplus has become a political flashpoint.

Washington filed a complaint with the WTO against China in April, alleging China’s legal regime for protecting and enforcing copyright and trademark protections was unfairly deficient. Chinese-made counterfeit goods — from software and DVDs to luxury leather goods and watches - are widely available in the US market. Bilateral talks within the framework of the WTO dispute process pro-ved fruitless, the office of the USTR said.