BEIJING -- It's a pity for the United States to seek consultation process at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over China's industrial subsidies, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Saturday.

Actually the two countries have kept bilateral contact over the issue all along, the spokesman said.

China is deliberating the consultation proposal from the United States, the spokesman said.

The United States on Friday formally asked for a consultation process at the WTO over China's industrial subsidies.

The US government has filed a complaint with the WTO, alleging that China is using government support to help its companies compete in world markets, thus creating an unfair playing field, trade sources in Geneva said.

By filing the complaint, the United States asked for a consultation process with China in Geneva, which is the first stage of the dispute settlement procedure of the world trade body.

The consultation will usually last two months once it is started. If it fails, a WTO panel of experts will be formed to handle the dispute.