Press Release: Chinese restrictions on access to rare earths and other raw materials – WTO rules in EU’s favour

On 26 march 2014, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issued a panel ruling against China's export restrictions on rare earths, as well as tungsten and molybdenum that are used as essential components by a wide range of European industries. In line with the previous ruling on other raw materials, the WTO found that China's export duties and quotas were in breach of China’s WTO commitments and were not justified for reasons of environmental protection or conservation policy.

This ruling secures non-discriminatory access to raw materials. The EU believes this is in the interest of all WTO members, since all countries – whether developed or developing – rely on each other for their raw materials and global production chains.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/236: WTO confirms China’s export restrictions on rare earths and other raw materials incompatible with WTO rules http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-236_en.pdf

Website: World Trade Organizations http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/431_432_433r_e.htm

ESO: Background information: EU requests WTO panel against China's export restrictions on rare earths http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-requests-wto-panel-against-chinas-export-restrictions-on-rare-earths/

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