Brussels, 23/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has published a new Trade Policy Review on the United States (its eighth, the last being in 2004), which mainly calls on Washington to maintain its market largely open and to resist any attempt at trade protectionism. “The United States is the world's largest import market and its economy has continued to support global growth by maintaining its market largely open”, the WTO is pleased to note. This openness is one of the main factors explaining American economic growth, as it allows American producers and consumers to import the goods, services and capital they need “at the best conditions”, WTO explains. It is therefore important to maintain this openness by pre-empting possible protectionist sentiment”, the WTO report goes on to warn. The report comes just as the US Congress is preparing to discuss possible legislative measures to counter the rise in imports from China. The report also notes that the United States is actively pursing its free trade policy worldwide. The number of free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States has increased from three (in 2001) to fifteen end 2005 (six of which are already being implemented with NAFTA, Israel, Jordan, Chile, Singapore and Australia). Early 2006, free trade agreements with twelve other countries were on the negotiating table, the WTO report states. (The full text of the report is available on WTO internet site: http://www.wto.org ).