BEIJING -- Intertwisting the issue of China's currency regime reform with US's growing trade deficit with China is "adverse to both sides", a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.

"The current friction in Sino-US trade is normal," spokesman Chong Quan told a press conference here on Friday.

The response came after two US senators threatened Thursday to push for a vote on punitive tariffs against China for making little progress on reforming its currency regime.