China bans U.S. films over IP rights

December 13, 2007 In what appears to be a never-ending battle over copyright piracy and trade, the Chinese fired a broadside at the U.S. as the government banned the import of Hollywood movies, trade negotiators said Wednesday. During a break in the high-level "strategic economic dialogue" taking place in Xianghe, a suburb two hours outside Beijing, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said China stopped granting permission for U.S. movies to be shown in its theaters. The countries' trade officials exchanged tough words about film and television piracy, market access, investment and product safety.

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