The White House on Friday rejected a request from 30 members of the Congress to bring China's currency issue before the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The congressmen accused China of manipulating its currency to gain unfair trade advantages over the United States.

In a statement, Neena Morjani, a spokeswoman for US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, said the administration believed that to bring such a case to the WTO would undermine the White House's diplomatic efforts to pressure China for a change in its currency policies.

"A Section 301 action would not assist in these efforts, and indeed could be more damaging than helpful at this time," she said."We therefore must decline to accept the course of action recommended through this latest petition."

The congressional group petitioned the Bush administration in late September, urging the US government to file a case under Section 301 of the US trade law that would allow the United Statesto impose penalties on Chinese goods if the WTO rules against China.

Source: Xinhua