John Shattuck, assistant secretary of state for human rights, said Washington's demands for progress were clear and China now held the fate of its most-favored-nation, or MFN, trade status in its own hands.
"Further human rights progress is needed if MFN is to be renewed in June?" Shattuck said.
China has rejected linking trade issues with human rights, turning the MFN debate into a row that could result in a full-fledged trade war.
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