BEIJING. May 4. Beijing warned the United States Fri day that it would face retaliation if imposed sanctions against China for copyright piracy, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation told the Xinhua nears agency, reports Reuter.

A US decision to identify China as the worst pirate o( copyrights and patents on a list of offending nations Issued annually by the US trade representatives office was "irrational.' Xinhua quoted the ministry spokesman as saying. China firmly opposes the ac bon the spokesman said

Tf the US goes so far as to implement its trade retalia bon China will, accordihg to its foreign trade law. take countermeasures to safeguard its savereigntv anti national esteem. he said.