The United States should not shirk its international obligations in the name of "market economy status (MES)," a Chinese official said Friday, urging the U.S. to grant MES to China.

Recognizing China's MES and abandoning a surrogate country approach when calculating anti-dumping measures against Chinese exports are two different issues, said Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Commerce Ministry.

Shen made the remarks in response to U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker who said in November that the time was "not ripe" for the U.S. to grant China the MES.

When a surrogate country approach is in effect, a third country or region's prices can be used to assess if a certain country is exporting below market value or dumping.

The approach applicable to China is due to expire on Dec. 11, according to Article 15 of the protocols for China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.

It is a right that China should enjoy and an obligation that all WTO members must abide by, said Shen, asking the U.S. to stop using a surrogate country approach against China from Dec. 11.

Shen asked the U.S. to fulfill the obligations of the Article 15 on time, fully and completely, so as to promote the smooth development of China-US economic and trade relations.