Last week the United States filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization alleging that "extensive subsidies" are given to Chinese automobile and auto parts makers, which its says harms US producers and threatens local jobs.

A spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Commerce responded that China is firmly opposed to the US action, which she said is political and part of the ongoing presidential election campaign.

It was the third US complaint filed with the WTO against China this year following earlier allegations about restraints on rare earth exports and the country's anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US-produced automobiles.