China prepares defense of ‘rare earth’ policies

The United States, the European Union, and Japan are apparently ready to launch a joint challenge against China’s export restrictions on "rare earth" minerals at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In response, China insists that it stands ready to defend its policies and is suggesting again that it may defend its export quotas on environmental ...

By , a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

The United States, the European Union, and Japan are apparently ready to launch a joint challenge against China's export restrictions on "rare earth" minerals at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In response, China insists that it stands ready to defend its policies and is suggesting again that it may defend its export quotas on environmental grounds:

The rare earth export restrictions by China have been made out of consideration for the environment and the sustainable utilization of resources, rather than export protection -- that’s according to Chinese officials responding to complaints made by the US, EU and Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin says China has made unremitting efforts in providing rare earth minerals to the international community.

The United States, the European Union, and Japan are apparently ready to launch a joint challenge against China’s export restrictions on "rare earth" minerals at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In response, China insists that it stands ready to defend its policies and is suggesting again that it may defend its export quotas on environmental grounds:

The rare earth export restrictions by China have been made out of consideration for the environment and the sustainable utilization of resources, rather than export protection — that’s according to Chinese officials responding to complaints made by the US, EU and Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin says China has made unremitting efforts in providing rare earth minerals to the international community.

For interesting analyses of the brewing dust-up at the WTO, see here and here.

David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist

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