The United States promised a continued commitment to free trade Wednesday although it imposed new quotas on Chinese clothing,by which it claims to help the American firms to adjust to rising

imports.

National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack,who is accompanying US President George W.Bush on a state visit to Britain,told reporters in London that the US "administration is committed to free trade and fully enforcing our trade laws."

He said the US government approved an industry request for protection,"consistent with our commitment to ensure that US companies have time to adjust to market disruptions caused by rising imports."

The Bush administration said on Tuesday it would slap import quotas on Chinese knit fabrics,bras and robes,signaling a new line of attack against the world's fifth-largest trading nation.

Some US officials have blamed job losses on the rapid rise of Chinese textile imports.

"The Chinese government expresses deep regret and firmly opposes this decision,"Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Chong Quan said in a statement.

It "runs against WTO principles on free trade,transparency and non-discrimination",Chong said,adding that China might take the dispute to the World Trade Organization.