US says China Internet censorship a burden for businesses

A map of China is seen through a magnifying glass on a computer screen showing binary digits in Singapore in this January 2, 2014 photo illustration. REUTERS/Edgar Su

BEIJING: The United States has labelled China's Internet censorship a trade barrier in a report for the first time since 2013, saying worsening online restrictions are damaging the business of US companies. 

Since Xi Jinping became China's president that year, the US had not listed China's so-called Great Firewall as a trade impediment despite widespread outcry that the online blocks limit access to crucial information, e-mail and search services such as those found on Google's platform.