The European Union says it will consider placing a complaint at WTO against China if the country fails to protect intellectual property rights.

Weeks after the U.S. placed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, EU trade Chief Peter Mandelson warned that the EU could follow in Washington's footsteps with its own case at the global trade referee.

"I do not rule out initiating or joining action at the WTO if in our view China is failing to take its responsibilities seriously," he said in Brussels.

"China has agreed to protect (intellectual property rights). It did so when it joined the WTO and despite considerable efforts by the Chinese government, IPR protection in China remains patchy and uneven," he added.

Taking a more diplomatic approach than the U.S. to the problem so far, Mandelson has lobbied Beijing to crack down even harder on copyright piracy but stressed that the EU expected the "dialogue" to bear fruit.

"As we're seeing in the United States, Europe's patience could wear thin if we do not see our dialogue with the Chinese authorities delivering more change when it comes to IPR and other market access issues," he said.

While suing trade partners at the WTO was not the "instrument of choice" for prying open markets, Mandelson said he was prepared to do so "as a last resort."

MRD/HAR