By Doug Palmer WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, in the first report on Russia's compliance with its World Trade Organization commitments, said on Wednesday it was closely watching Moscow for any violations that thwart U.S. exports to the world's sixth-largest economy. But in the report required by Congress, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office did not announce any definite plans for litigation at the Geneva-based world trade body.

Spain's trade deficit was halved in April as exports soared, especially to China and other fast-growing emerging markets, the government said Wednesday, a rare glimmer of good news for a nation struggling in a double-dip recession. Spain, with the eurozone's fourth-biggest economy, posted a deficit of 1.642 billion euros ($2.196 billion) in April compared to a deficit of 3.355 billion euros, the Economy Ministry said. Exports jumped 18.6 percent from a year earlier to 20.398 billion euros while imports rose 7.2 percent to 22.04 billion euros.

Chinese wine importers have already started putting orders from France and other European countries on hold over fears of a hike in tariffs being triggered as part of a broader EU-China trade dispute, say leading figures in the sector. Industry insiders attending this week's Vinexpo exhibition in Bordeaux revealed that China's decision to launch an anti-dumping investigation into European wine has created a backdrop of uncertainty that has resulted in buyers sitting on their hands.

China said Tuesday it will this week hold talks with the European Union in a bid to resolve a dispute over solar panels and other business issues, as tensions between the two risk escalating into a trade war. The two sides have "tentatively decided" to hold the annual ministerial-level meeting of the joint economic and trade commission on Friday in Beijing, said Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.