British Broadcasting Corporation
ron kirk Mr Kirk has accused the Chinese of hurting American steelmakers
The US and European Union (EU) have filed complaints that China is unfairly limiting its raw material exports.
In the trade cases filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO) the US and EU said China was giving its domestic industry access to cheap materials.
China said it was meeting its WTO obligations and would contest the case.
The case may be the first of many between the world's largest nations as countries have sought to protect their industries amid the global recession.
The cases concern the export of materials such as coke used to make steel, for which it is one of the largest producers, as well as bauxite and magnesium.
Consultation period
"The United States believes that China is unfairly restricting exports of raw materials," US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said.
"These actions are hurting American steel, aluminium and chemical manufacturers, among other industries, that desperately need these material to make their products."
Mr Kirk said the US had decided to pursue a WTO case after two years of talks between the Chinese and the previous administration of former President George W Bush had failed to reach a resolution.
China responded that its goal was to "protect the environment and natural resources, and the Chinese side considers the relevant policy to be compliant with WTO regulations".
China has also responded by launching a complaint over a US ban on the imports of Chinese poultry, which has been in place since the bird flu scare in 2004.
The US and EU complaints now trigger a 60-day consultation period. If the dispute is still not resolved, they can formally request a hearing panel, which could hear the case for up to a year.
If they win, the US and EU would then be given the go-ahead by the WTO to impose economic sanctions on China.
Print Sponsor
Reform IMF voting powers
Pledge by pledgeG20 countries compared - deficits and stimulus packages
G20 mapYour three words
In three words...Alistair Darling
G20 'focus is on future growth'President Obama
Obama cautious about US recoveryNewspaper front page
Pain of joblessness in US stateVanessa Rossi and Anthony Scaramucci
Expert opinion: Is the recession ending?video Design fixed for 1,000mph car
video One-minute World News
video Bloodhound's race with Eurofighter
video Cigars in space for astronaut father
video Celebrities' personality traits
video Navy blasts drugs speedboat
video Rudd on Copenhagen hopes
video Gingerbread display vandalised
video UK in terror warning for Timbuktu
video Speedboat's 'splash' landing
Copepod (Bunzow/Corgosinho)
In picturesUS President Barack Obama
Mardell's AmericaGirl biting another girl
Wild daughtersMost Popular Now | 33,814 people are reading stories on the site right now.
Quantcast
BBC © MMIX
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.watch One-Minute World News