China urged the United States on Friday to scrap its "nonmarket economy status" treatment of trade with China, and treat the country's goods fairly, said a government official and an expert.

Their comments came after the United States formally informed the World Trade Organization that it opposes granting market economy status to China, a position that, if upheld, would allow Washington to maintain high anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods.

The statement of opposition, made public on Thursday, was submitted as a third-party brief in support of the European Union in a dispute with China that could have major repercussions for the trade body's future.

Some countries are trying to "skirt their responsibility" under WTO rules, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news briefing on Friday.

"We again urge relevant countries to strictly honor their commitment to international principles and laws," said Geng.

China has in past years been fighting the EU and the US for recognition as a market economy, a designation that would lead to dramatically lower anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods by prohibiting the use of third-country price comparisons.

"Launching more anti-dumping investigations under various excuses against China will damage the interests of all three parties in the long run," said Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.

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