BEIJING: China has denied suspending movie imports from the United States, after US officials “forcefully” raised the issue and demanded answers during tense meetings this week.

US entertainment industry journal Variety last week reported that China had begun a three-month suspension of US movies, amid speculation that the Chinese were looking to punish the United States over a range of trade disputes. “The Chinese government has never made a decision as to ban the screening of US movies on the Chinese market,” the State Administration for Film, Radio and Television said in a statement published on its website late on Thursday.—AFP