BEIJING, July 11 -- China and the United States have failed at a second round of talks to resolve a simmering row over the latter's punitive limits on Chinese clothing imports, China's commerce ministry said yesterday.

    The technical-level talks were however "frank" and "pragmatic" and the two sides will decide on a next round through consultations, the ministry said in a statement.

    "The two sides agreed to keep the channel of exchange open and continue the consultations to find out an appropriate way to solve the textile and garment issue," the ministry said.

    The United States has placed restrictions on seven Chinese textile products after they surged to the United States market following the ending of a global textile tariff system on January 1 this year.

    China has said the United States should have phased out the tariff much earlier.

    China and the EU headed off a similar trade war in early June when they agreed to limit the annual growth of 10 Chinese textile product exports to the EU to between 8.5 and 12.5 percent until the end of 2007.

    Both sides hailed the agreement as a victory for free trade and compromise, with Beijing urging Washington to seek a similar pact and forgo unilateral administrative moves that cap the growth of seven categories of imports at 7.5 percent annually until the end of this year.

    Friday's talks in Beijing were also to prepare for the annual meeting on the coming Monday of the Sino-US Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade.

    US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, US Trade Representative Rob Portman and US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will attend the meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Trade Minister Bo Xilai.

    (Source: ChinaDaily/Agencies)