China Internet control claimed as trade violation

The California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) filed a petition with the Office of the US Trade Representative protesting that US service providers are severely damaged by restrictions place on Internet usage by China. CFAC claims that the restrictions place US companies at a disadvantage (e.g., by forcing them to register at a local level, or submit content for government approval) and violate international trade agreements, including the protocol China singed when it joined the World Trade Organization. See, "Google and Yahoo tread carefully in China internet row," Financial Times, Aug. 22, 2008.