The US Treasury Department said on Wednesday that China was not a currency manipulator but pledged to "actively and frankly" push China toward faster exchange-rate flexibility.

 

In a delayed report to the US Congress on its trade partners' currency practices, the department announced it would not brand China as a country that was manipulating its currency to gain unfair trade advantages.

 

The US government is required to report every six months to the US Congress and cite any countries that the US believes are manipulating their currencies for trade purposes.

 

The current report was delayed from its deadline of April 15.

 

While the Bush administration has been pressuring China to allow its currency to rise in value against the US dollar in the two years, the US government has not designated China as a currency manipulator, a process that would trigger consultations between the two nations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2006)