WASHINGTON, April 7: The United States is to take China before the World Trade Organisation this week in a copyright piracy row, the latest of several US trade moves against the Asian giant, a report said on Saturday.

The administration of President George W. Bush is to refer two charges of alleged abuse of intellectual property by China to the global mediator “this coming week,” The Wall Street Journal financial daily reported.

The US accuses China of being too soft in enforcing its own anti-piracy laws while at the same time restricting too tightly quotas for the distribution of foreign music, films and books -- which hits the US industries hard.

Media piracy in China is believed to cost the US movie powerhouse billions of dollars a year in lost income, according to industry figures cited by the newspaper.

This week's move would be the latest in a series of actions by the US against China trade activities. In February the Bush administration filed a case with the WTO accusing Beijing of unfairly subsidizing Chinese industries.

The newspaper said these proceedings have worried some US companies, which fear they will jeopardize progress already made in persuading Chinese officials to cooperate in fighting piracy.—AFP