WTO upholds ruling against China’s ‘rare earths’ export curbs
by The Associated Press
Upheld dispute settlement panel's March ruling that China's export restrictions on rare earths breach WTO rules
BERLIN—The World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld a ruling that China violated international trade rules with restrictions on the export of “rare earths”—the minerals used in mobile phones, hybrid cars, flat-screen TVs and other high-tech products.
In March, the WTO dispute settlement panel found that China’s restrictions breach WTO rules.
Its ruling followed complaints by the United States, European Union (EU) and Japan.
The Geneva-based WTO’s appellate panel rejected Beijing’s appeal, saying it hasn’t “demonstrated that the export quotas that China applies to various forms of rare earths … are justified.”
China accounts for more than 90 per cent of production of rare earths.
In 2009, it alarmed foreign companies by limiting rare earths exports in an attempt to boost its own domestic manufacturing base.
