Thirty top American Senators today appealed to China to resolve the long-standing bilateral economic

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irritants during the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meetings this month.

The Senators led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and its Ranking Member Chuck Grassley focused in particular on China's inadequate protection of US intellectual property rights, policies that discriminate in favour of domestic Chinese or "indigenous" innovation and unscientific restrictions on imports of US beef.

A letter in this regard was written to Wang Qishan, Vice Premier of State Council, China, a copy of which was released to the press.

"The upcoming state visit by President Hu Jintao provides an opportunity for the United States and the People's Republic of China to demonstrate concrete progress toward resolving several longstanding issues in the US-China economic relationship," the letter said.

"Progress on these issues would help enhance our bilateral economic ties and reduce our bilateral economic tensions. It is imperative, therefore, that the United States and China work together constructively in advance of President Hu's visit to ensure its success.

"And one critical venue for that work is the December meetings of the US–China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT)," the letter said.

The Senators also reiterated US concerns about China's unfair currency undervaluation.

"The United States and China cannot just talk about hurdles in our trade relationship – we need to overcome them," Baucus said in statement.

"China's ineffective protection of intellectual property rights, discriminatory innovation practices and barriers to US beef exports have long presented hurdles for American businesses and ranchers exporting to China," he said.

This month's joint trade talks provide the perfect opportunity for China to stop talking about these challenges to our economic relationship and start addressing them.

"It is time for China to make progress on these issues so our two countries can continue to build a strong, mature economic relationship," Baucus said.

Grassley said these meetings are an opportunity to resolve some longstanding issues in our trading relationship with China.

"In most cases, it is just a matter of China treating US companies fairly. For example, China has policies that give preferences to wind turbines built in China. That puts Iowa's wind turbine manufacturers at a disadvantage.

"That is not right. And China's refusal to base beef imports on sound science hurts Iowa producers. I urge China to take our concerns seriously. It is in the interest of both of our countries," he said.