Washington, October 12:

Executives from 25 US companies ranging from Home Depot to Westinghouse Electric will travel to China next month as part of a trade mission aimed at boosting exports and trimming America’s huge trade deficit.

The commerce department yesterday announced the companies selected to make the November 13-17 trip to Beijing and Shanghai in search of sales opportunities and possible partnerships with Chinese companies.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who will lead the mission, said the companies chosen for the trip represent a cross-section of American companies that are seeking to do business in China. He said the companies were chosen to highlight various issues US companies face in trying to crack the Chinese market.

“We wanted to get companies that would help us in some of our key areas of focus such as intellectual property rights, market access and direct sales,” Gutierrez said.

The trade mission is the latest effort to combat a soaring US trade deficit with China, which last year hit an all-time high of $202 billion and is on track to set a new record this year.

Playboy files lawsuit

BEIJING: US-based entertainment group Playboy has filed a lawsuit here in a bid to protect its famous rabbit’s head logo from copyright abuse in China. Playboy has accused three Chinese companies of producing shirts with logos similar to Playboy’s signature trademark.

The company is seeking compensation of $68,000 and a public apology from the firms. — AFP