Beijing, May 3 (IANS) The US placing restrictions on more than 2,400 items exported to China is the reason for the trade imbalance between the two countries, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Thursday.

He said it will be difficult for the two countries to achieve balanced trade if the US continues to maintain control over such a large variety of exported goods.
The minister was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the fourth round of China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, kicked off Thursday in Beijing, China Daily reported.
Chen urged the US to relax its export controls.