March 08, 2007	Thursday	Safar 18, 1428

BEIJING, March 7: China will hold consultations with the United States later this month on industrial subsidies that have caused Washington to drag Beijing before the World Trade Organisation, state media said on Wednesday.

In their meeting at WTO headquarters in Geneva, they will discuss US complaints that China subsidises industries such as steel, paper and information technology, the China Daily reported, citing the commerce ministry.

"China has accepted the US request for consultation and the two sides will launch talks in Geneva in the last 10 days of this month," an unnamed ministry official told the newspaper.

Mexico, Japan, the European Union and Australia will join the consultations as third parties, according to the report.—AFP