BEIJING. Jun 5: China yesterday demanded permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status with the United States after President Bill Clinton said he would renew the favourable trade privileges for another year, reports AFP.

"The US needs to get in step with the times and settle the permanent normal trade relations issue with China as soon as possible to ensure the normal development of Slno-US economic and trade relations." foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said in a China Daily report.

He said Beijing had "taken note" of Clinton’s urging Congress to support the renewd of NTR, formerly Most Favored Nation (MFN) status, for another year.

Since the Tiananman Square massacre 10 years ago, when China used tanks and troops to crush a pro-democracy movement, the US president has asked Congress before the June 4 anniversary of the massacre to renew NTR and it has been granted.

But a recent congressional report alleging China waged an intensive. 20-year campaign to steal US nuclear weapons secrets is expected to ratchet up the usual intensive debate this year over whether China should face US trade penalties.

NTR allows China to export goods to the United States under the same low tariffs accorded to most other countries.

Congress now has 90 days during which it may try to overturn Clinton's decision. Revoking NTR requires a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.